ry dealing； and； indeed； an outrageous thing that he； who was possessed of all the vast provinces between India and the Syrian sea； should think himself so poorly off as； for the sake of two cities which he coveted； to disturb the peace of his dear connection； already a sufferer under a severe reverse of fortune。 However； he did but justify the saying of Plato； that the only certain way to be truly rich is not to have more property； but fewer desires。 For whoever is always grasping at more avows that he is still in want； and must be poor in the midst of affluence。 But Demetrius； whose courage did not sink； resolutely sent him answer； that； though he were to lose ten thousand battles like that of Ipsus； he would pay no price for the good…will of such a son…in…law as Seleucus。 He reinforced these cities with sufficient garrisons to enable them to make a defence against Seleucus； and； receiving information that Lachares； taking the opportunity of their civil dissensions； had set up himself as a usurper over the Athenians； he imagined that if he made a sudden attempt upon the city； he might now without difficulty get possession of it。 He crossed the sea in safety with a large fleet； but passing along the coast of Attica； was met by a violent storm； and lost the greater number of his ships； and a very considerable body of men on board of them。 As for him； he escaped； and began to make war in a petty manner with the Athenians； but； finding himself unable to effect his design； he sent back orders for raising another fleet； and； with the troops which he had； marched into Peloponnesus and laid siege to the city of Messena。 In attacking which place he was in danger of death； for a missile from an engine struck him in the face； and passed through the cheek into his mouth。 He recovered； however； and； as soon as he was in a condition to take the field； won over divers cities which had revolted from him； and made an incursion into Attica； where he took Eleusis and Rhamnus； and wasted the country thereabout。 And that he might straiten the Athenians by cutting off all manner of provision； a vessel laden with corn bound thither falling into his hands； he ordered the master and the supercargo to be immediately hanged； thereby to strike a terror into others； that so they might not venture to supply the city with provisions。 By which means they were reduced to such extremities that a bushel of salt sold for forty drachmas； and a peck of wheat for three hundred。 Ptolemy had sent to their relief a hundred and fifty galleys； which came so near as to be seen off Aegina； but this brief hope was soon extinguished by the arrival of three hundred ships； which came to reinforce Demetrius from Cyprus； Peloponnesus； and other places； upon which Ptolemy's fleet took to flight； and Lachares； the tyrant； ran away； leaving the city to its fate。 And now the Athenians； who before had made it capital for any person to propose a treaty or accommodation with Demetrius； immediately opened the nearest gates to send ambassadors to him； not so much out of hopes of obtaining any honourable conditions from his clemency as out of necessity； to avoid death by famine。 For among many frightful instances of the distress they were reduced to； it is said that a father and son were sitting in a room together； having abandoned every hope； when a dead mouse fell from the ceiling； and for this prize they leaped up and came to blows。 In this famine； it is also related； the philosopher Epicurus saved his own life； and the lives of his scholars； by a small quantity of beans； which he distributed to them daily by number。 In this condition was the city when Demetrius made his entrance and issued a proclamation that all the inhabitants should assemble in the theatre； which being done； he drew up his soldiers at the back of the stage； occupied the stage itself with his guards； and； presently coming in himself by the actors' passages； when the people's consternation had risen to its height； with his first words he put an end to it。 Without any harshness of tone or bitterness of words； he reprehended them in a gentle and friendly way； and declared himself reconciled； adding a present of a hundred thousand bushels of wheat； and appointing as magistrates persons acceptable to the people。 So Dromoclides； the orator； seeing the people at a loss how to express their gratitude by any words or acclamations； and ready for anything that would outdo the verbal encomiums of the public speakers； came forward； and moved a decree for delivering Piraeus and Munychia into the hands of King Demetrius。 This was passed accordingly； and Demetrius； of his own motion； added a third garrison； which he placed in the Museum； as a precaution against any new restiveness on the part of the people； which might give him the trouble of quitting his other enterprises。 He had not long been master of Athens before he had formed designs against Lacedaemon； of which Archidamus； the king； being advertised； came out and met him； but he was overthrown in a battle near Mantinea； after which Demetrius entered Laconia； and； in a second battle near Sparta itself； defeated him again with the loss of two hundred Lacedaemonians slain； and five hundred taken prisoners。 And now it was almost impossible for the city； which hitherto had never been captured； to escape his arms。 But certainly there never was any king upon whom fortune made such short turns； nor any other life or story so filled with her swift and surprising changes； over and over again； from small things to great； from splendour back to humiliation and from utter weakness once more to power and might。 They say in his sadder vicissitudes he used sometimes to apostrophize fortune in the words of Aeschylus…
〃Thou liftest up； to cast us down again。〃
And so at this moment； when all things seemed to conspire together to give him his heart's desire of dominion and power； news arrived that Lysimachus had taken all his cities in Asia； that Ptolemy had reduced all Cyprus with the exception of Salamis； and that in Salamis his mother and children were shut up and close besieged； and yet； like the woman in Archilochus…
〃Water in one deceitful hand she shows； While burning fire within her other glows。〃
The same fortune that drew him off with these disastrous tidings from Sparta； in a moment after opened upon him a new and wonderful prospect； of the following kind。 Cassander； King of Macedon； dying； and his eldest son Philip； who succeeded him； not long surviving his father； the two younger brothers fell at variance concerning the succession。 And Antipater having murdered his mother Thessalonica； Alexander； the younger brother； called in to his assistance Pyrrhus out of Epirus； and Demetrius out of the Peloponnese。 Pyrrhus arrived first； and； taking in recompense for his succour a large slice of Macedonia； had made Alexander begin to be aware that he had brought upon himself a dangerous neighbour。 And； that he might not run a yet worse hazard from Demetrius； whose power and reputation were so great； the young man hurried away to meet him at Dium； whither he； who on receiving his letter had set out on his march； was now come。 And； offering his greetings and grateful acknowledgments； he at the same time informed him that his affairs no longer required the presence of his ally； thereupon he invited him to supper。 There were not wanting some feelings of suspicion on either side already； and when Demetrius was now on his way to the banquet； some one came and told him that in the midst of the drinking he would be killed。 Demetrius showed little concern； but； making only a little less haste； he sent to the principal officers of his army commanding them to draw out the soldiers； and make them stand to their arms； and ordered his retinue （more numerous a good deal than that of Alexander） to attend him into the very room of the entertainment； and not to stir from thence till they saw him rise from the table。 Thus Alexander's servants； finding themselves overpowered； had not courage to attempt anything。 And； indeed； Demetrius gave them no opportunity； for he made a very short visit； and pretending to Alexander that he was not at present in health for drinking wine； left early。 And the next day he occupied himself in preparations for departing； telling Alexander he had received intelligence that obliged him to leave； begging him to excuse so sudden a parting； he would hope to see him further when his affairs allowed him leisure。 Alexander was only too glad； not only that he was going； but that he was doing so of his own motion； without any offence； and proposed to accompany him into Thessaly。 But when they came to Larissa； new invitations passed between them； new professions of good…will； covering new conspiracies； by which Alexander put himself into the power of Demetrius。 For as he did not like to use precautions on his own part； for fear Demetrius should take the hint to use them on his； the very thing he meant to use was first done to him。 He accepted an invitation； and came to Demetrius's quarters； and when Demetrius； while they were still supping； rose from the table and went forth； the young man rose also； and followed him to the door； where Demetrius； as he passed through； only said to the guards； 〃Kill him that follows me；〃 and went on； and Alexander was at once despatched by them； together with such of his friends as endeavoured to come to his rescue； one of whom； before he died； said； 〃You have been one day too quick for us。〃 The night following was one； as may be supposed； of disorder and confusion。 And with the morning； the Macedonians； still in alarm； and fearful of the forces of Demetrius； on finding no violence offered； but only a message sent from Demetrius desiring an interview and opportunity for explanation of his actions； at last began to feel pretty confident again； and prepared to receive him favourably。 And when he came； there was no need of much being said； their hatred of Antipater for his murder of his mother； and the absence of any one better to govern them； soon decided them to proclaim Demetrius King of Macedon。 And into Macedonia they at once started and took him。 And the Macedonians at home； who had not forgotten or forgiven the wicked d