The history of the world

§. VIII. PERDICCAS his voyage into Aegypt, and his death.

PERDICCAS, vncertaine which way to bend his maine power, at length resolued to set vpon Ptolomie; leauing Eumenes to keepe to his vse, against Craterus and Antipater, the parts of Asia bordering vpon Europe.

It may seeme strange, that hee did not rather make head against those who were to come out of Greece with a great number, and of more able men [unspec 10] than Ptolomie could bring. Perhaps he thought to make a quick end with Ptolomie; or beleeued that Craterus would not be readie for him soone enough. Sure it is that he tooke a bad course, and made it worse with ill handling.

Ptolomie by his sweet behauiour allured many to his partie, without helpe of any bad arts. Perdiccas contrariwise was full of insolencie, which neuer faileth to be re∣warded with 〈◊〉〈◊〉; that is truely defined. An affection founded vpon opinion of an vnjust contempt. The whole storie of his proceedings in Aegypt is not worth relating: for he did nothing of importance; but (as a wilfull man) tired his fol∣lowers, and wasted them in hard enterprises without successe. His most forceable attempt was vpon a little Towne, called the Camels Wall: thither he marched by [unspec 20] night, with more haste then good speed; for Ptolomie preuenting him, did put him∣selfe into the place, where behauing himselfe not only as a good Commander, but as a stout Souldier, hee gaue the foile to Perdiccas, causing him to retire with losse; after a vehement, but vaine, assault continued one whole day. The night following, Perdiccas made another journie, (which was his last) and came to the diuisions of Nilus, ouer against Memphis. There with much difficultie hee beganne to passe ouer his Armie into an Iland, where he meant to incampe. The current was strong, the water deepe, and hardly foordable. Wherefore he placed his Elephants aboue the passage, to breake the violence of the streame, and his horse men beneath it; to take vp such as were carried away by swiftnesse of water. A great part of his Armie [unspec 30] being arriued on the further banke, the channell beganne to waxe deepe; so that whereas the former companies had waded vp to the chinne, they who should haue followed could finde no footing. Whether this came by rising of the water, or flit∣ting away of the ground; (the earth being broken with the feete of so many Men, Horse, and Elephants) no remedie there was, but such as had passed must repasse a∣gaine, as well as they might: for they were too weake for the enemie, and could not be relieued by their fellowes. With great confusion therefore they committed themselues to the Riuer, wherein aboue two thousand of them perished, a thou∣sand were deuoured by Crocodiles; a miserable spectacle euen to such as were out of danger; such as were strong and could swimme, recouered the Campe; many were [unspec 40] carried downe the streame, and driuen to the contrarie banke, whereby they fell in∣to the hands of their enemies.

This misfortune exasperated the Souldiers against their Generall, giuing libertie to their tongues, which long time had concealed the euill thoughts of their hearts. While they were thus murmuring, newes came from Ptolomy, which did set them in an vp-rore. Ptolomie had not only shewed much compassion on those who fell into his hands aliue, but performed all rights of funerall to the dead carcases, which the Riuer had cast vpon his side; and finally, sent their bones and ashes to be interred by their Kinsmen or Friends. This did not onely moue the common Souldier, but made the Captaines fall to mutinie, thinking it vnreasonable to make warre vpon so [unspec 50] vertuous and honorable a person, to fulfill the pleasure of a Lordly ambitious man, vsing them like slaues. The sedition growing strong wanted only a head, which it quickly found. Python was there, who inwardly hated Perdiccas, for the disgrace which hee had suffered by his procurement, after the victorie vpon the rebellious

Greekes. Python had liued in honourable place about Alexander; he was in the diui∣sion of the Prouinces made Gouernour of Media; hee had followed Perdiccas, and being in all things (the Protectorship excepted) equall to him, had neuerthelesse beene scornefully vsed by him, which now he requited. Drawing together a hun∣dred of the Captaines, & a good part of the horse, which consisted of the Gentrie, (the footmen hauing declared themselues before) he entred the Tent of Perdiccas, where without further circumstance they all ranne vpon him, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him. Such end had the proud mis-gouerning authoritie of Perdiccas. Hee might haue liued as great as any, could he haue suffered any as great as himselfe; yea, peraduenture ma∣ster of all, had he not beene too masterly ouer those which were already his. [unspec 10]

The next day Ptolomie came into the campe, where he was joyfully receiued; he excused himselfe of things past, as not hauing beene Author, or giuen cause of the Warre, and was easily beleeued: the fauour of the Armie being such toward him, that needs they would haue made him Protector in the roome of Perdiccas. But this hee refused. It was an office fit for one, that would seeke to increase his great∣nesse with his trouble. Ptolomie was well enough alreadie; wherefore, for his owne quiet he forbare to accept it, and for their well-deseruing of him hee procured that honourable charge to Python, and to Aridaeus the Captaine, who hauing had some companies of Souldiers, to furnish with their attendance the solemnities of Alexan∣ders Funerals, did with them adhere to him against Perdiccas. [unspec 20]

In the middest of these businesses came newes of two great victories obtained by Eumenes; which newes, had they arriued two or three daies sooner, had beene en∣tertained with joyfull acclamations; and would haue giuen such reputation to Per∣diccas, as bad caused both his priuate maligners to continue his open flatterers, and his open enemies to haue accepted any tolerable composition. But these good ti∣dings comming in ill time, when death had stopped the eares which would haue giuen them wel-come, found bad acceptance, as shall be shewed hereafter.