EUMENES. 425

This victory Eumenes obtained about ten days after the former, and got great reputation alike for his conduct and his valor in achieving it. But on the other hand, it created him great envy both among his own troops, and his enemies, that he, a stranger and a foreigner, should em- ploy the forces and arms of Macedon, to cut off the brav- est and most approved man among them. Had the news of this defeat come timely enough to Perdiccas, he had doubtless been the greatest of all the Macedonians; but now, he being slain in a mutiny in Egypt, two days before the news arrived, the Macedonians in a rage decreed Eumenes's death, giving joint commission to Antigonus and Antipater to prosecute the war against him. Passing by Mount Ida, where there was a royal establishment of horses, Eumenes took as many as he had occasion for, and sent an account of his doing so to the overseers, at which Antipater is said to have laughed, calling it truly laudable in Eumenes thus to hold himself prepared for giving in to them* (or would it be taking from them ?) strict account of all matters of administration. Eumenes had designed to engage in the plains of Lydia, near Sar- dis, both because his chief strength lay in horse, and to let Cleopatra see how powerful he was. But at her par- ticular request, for she was afraid to give any umbrage to Antipater, he marched into the upper Phrygia, and win- tered in Celamoe ; when Alcetas, Polemon, and Docimus disputing with him who should command in chief, " You know," said he, " the old saying, That destruction regards no punctilios." Having promised his soldiers pay within three days, he sold them all the farms and castles in the

• That is, to Antipater and (un- gent, and was now, therefore, treat-

der him) Antigonus, the former of ed as an enemy by his successors, whom, since Perdiccas's death, held was anxious to maintain his rela- the regency. Eumenes, who had tions with the royal family, all that been faithful to Perdiccas, as re- now was left for him.