The history of the world

§. XII. PTOLOMIE winnes Syria and Phoenicia. The death of ANTIPATER. [unspec 40]

WHilest these things were in doing, the rest of the Princes lay idle, ra∣ther seeking to enioy their Gouernments for the present, than to con∣firme or enlarge them. Onely Ptolomie looking abroad, wanne all Sy∣ria and Phoenicia: an action of great importance, but not remarkeable for any circumstance in the managing. Hee sent a Lieutenant thither with an Armie, who quickly tooke Laomedon prisoner, that ruled there by appoint∣ment of Antipater, and formerly of Perdiccas; but (as may seeme) without any great strength of Souldiers, farre from assistants, and vainely relying vpon the authority which had giuen him that Prouince, and was now occupied with greater cares, than with seeking to maintaine him in his Office. [unspec 50]

Antipater was old and sickly, desirous of rest, and therefore contented to let Antigonus pursue the dispatch of those businesses in Asia. Hee had with him 〈◊〉〈◊〉, one of the most ancient of Alexanders, Captaines, that had lately sup∣pressed a dangerous insurrection of the Aetolians, which Nation had stirred in the

quarrell of Perdiccas, preuailing farre at the first, but soone losing all that they had gained, whilest Antipater was abroad in his Cilician expedition. In this Polysperchon, Antipater did repose great confidence; so farre foorth, that (suspecting the youth of his owne Sonne Cassander of insufficiencie in so great a charge) hee bequeathed vn∣to him on his death-bed the Gouernment of Macedon and Greece, together with his Office of Protectorship. So Antipater died, being foure-score yeeres old, hauing al∣waies trauailed in the great affaires of mightie Princes, with such reputation, that Alexander in all his greatnesse was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of him, and the successours of Alexander did either quietly giue place vnto him, or were vnfortunate in making oppositions. In his priuate qualities he was a subtile man, temperate, frugall, and of a Philoso∣phicall [unspec 10] behauiour, not vnlearned, as hauing beene Scholler to Aristotle, and written some Histories. Hee had beene much molested by Olympias, Alexanders mother, whom after the death of her Sonne, hee compelled to abstaine from comming into Macedonia, or entermeddling in matters of estate: yea, at his owne death he gaue e∣speciall direction, that no woman should bee permitted to deale in the administrati∣on of the Empire. But this precept was soone forgotten; and yet, ere long, by sor∣rowfull experience approued to haue been sound and good.