Page 261
WHile Ptolomie followed his businesse with such prosperitie, Seleucus tooke leaue of him, and went vp to Babylon, to trie his owne fortune; which hee found so fauourable, that recouering first his owne Pro∣uince, [unspec 10] hee became at length master of the better part of Alexanders purchases.
This expedition of Seleucus was very strange, and full of vnlikelihoods. Histraine consisted of no more then eight hundred foote, and two hundred horse, a number too small to haue been placed as Garrison, in some one of those maine great Cities, against which he carried it into the higher Asia. But little force is needfull, to make way into strong places, for him that alreadie stands possessed of their hearts which dwell within the walls. The name of Seleucus was enough; whom the Babylonians had found so good a Gouernour, that none of them would finde courage to resist him; but left that worke to Antigonus his owne men, wishing them ill to speede. [unspec 20] Some of the Macedonians that were in those Countries, had the like affection; others made a countenance of warre, which by easie compulsion they left off, and follow∣ed new Ensignes. This added courage to the people, who came in apace, and sub∣mitted themselues ioyfully to Seleucus. In a defection so generall, it was not a safe course for the Antigonians, to thrust themselues into the Townes of most impor∣tance: for euery man of them should haue been troubled with daily enemies, in his owne lodging. It remained that they should issue forth into the field, and trie the matter by fight. But the treason of one principall man, who reuolted to the ene∣mie, with more then a thousand Souldiers following him, so dismaied the rest, that they did no more than seeke to make good one strong place, wherein were kept the [unspec 30] Hostages and Prisoners, that Antigonus held for his securitie in those quarters. This Castle, belike, they had not fortified in times of leisure, against dangers, that were not then apparent. Seleucus quickly tooke it; and so got the entire possession of Me∣sopotamia and Babylon.
Antigonus had bestowed in Media and Persia, forces conuenient for defence of those Prouinces, that were the vtmost of his Dominion. In the Countries about Euphrates he had not done the like: for his owne great Armie lay betweene them and all enemies. Therefore when the victorie at Gaza had opened vnto Seleucus the way into those parts; hee found little impediment in the rest of his businesse. Hauing now gotten what he sought; it behoued him to seeke how he might keepe [unspec 40] his gettings: for his owne forces were too small, and his friends were ill able to lend him any more. That which his friends could not doe for him; his enemies did. Ni∣canor, to whom Antigonus had committed his Armie in Media, ioyning vnto him∣selfe, out of Persia and other Countries, all needfull helpe came with ten thousand foote, and seuen thousand horse, either to saue all from being lost, or to driue Se∣leucus out of that which he had wonne.
Against this power, Seleucus had only foure hundred horse, and somewhat aboue three thousand foot, where with to oppose himselfe: his large conquest of vnwar∣like Nations hauing yeelded him many louing subiects, but few souldiers. There∣fore when his enemies were neere to the Riuer of Tigris, hee withdrew himselfe [unspec 50] from the place where his resistance was expected, into certaine marishes not farre off; where he lay secretly waiting for some aduantage. Nicanor thought that hee had beene fled, and was the lesse carefull in fortifying his campe. In recompence of this vaine securitie, his campe was taken by surprise, the first night of his arriuall;