Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

When Demetrius was besieging the Rhodians [*](In 305-304 B.C.) he seized in one of the suburbs a painting of the

The Athenians revolted, and when he had taken their city, which was already in serious straits from lack of food, an assembly of the people was immediof grain. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius, chap. xxxiv. (905 B).)In speaking about this before them he lapsed into a barbarism. One of those sitting there repeated the phrase as it should have been spoken, and he said, For this correction, then, I give you eight thousand bushels more.

When Demetrius, the father of Antigonus the Second, had been taken captive, he sent one of his friends and urged Antigonus to pay no attention if he should write anything under compulsion of Seleucus, and not to withdraw from the cities; but Antigonus of his own accord wrote to Seleucus resigning to him his whole kingdom and offering to surrender himself as a hostage on condition that his father Demetrius be released. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius, chap. li. (914 D).)

When Antigonus was about to engage in a naval battle against Ptolemy’s generals, the pilot said that the ships of the enemy far outnumbered their own. But, said Antigonus, how many ships do you think my own presence here is equivalent to ? [*](Cf. Moralia, 545 B, and Plutarch’s Life of Pelopidas, chap. ii. (278 D), both showing variation in wording and details; also Athenaeus, 209 E, and Gulick’s note in the L.C.L., vol. ii. p. 447.)

Once when he was withdrawing before the advance of the enemy, he said that he was not fleeing, but was following up his advantage, which lay in the rear.

When a young man, son of a brave father, but not himself having any reputation for being a good soldier, suggested the propriety of his receiving his father’s emoluments, Antigonus said, My boy, I give pay and presents for the excellence of a man, not for the excellence of his father.

When Zeno of Citium died, whom he admired most among the philosophers, he said that the audience to hear of his exploits had been taken away. [*](Cf. Diogenes Laertius, vii. 15.)

Lysimachus was overpowered by Dromichaetas in Thrace, and because of thirst surrendered himself and his army [*](In 292 B.C.); and when he drank after he had been made a prisoner, he said, My God, for what a little pleasure have I made myself a slave from being a king ! [*](The story is repeated with slight variations in Moralia, 126 E and 555 D; the capture of Lysimachus is recorded in Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius, chap. xxxix. (908 B); Polyaenus, Strategemata, vii. 25; Diodorus, xxi. 12.)

To Philippides the comic poet who was his friend and intimate he said, What of mine shall I share

Antipater, hearing of the death of Parmenio at the hands of Alexander, said, If Parmenio plotted against Alexander, who is to be trusted ? And if he did not, what is to be done ?

Of Demades the orator, who had already become an old man, he said that he was like an animal which had been eaten at a sacrificial feast; there was left only the belly and the tongue. [*](Cf. Moralia, 525 C and Plutarch’s Life of Phocion, chap. i. (741 E). Pytheas (quoted in Athenaeus, 44 F) speaks of Demades’ protruding belly and ranting tongue.)

Antiochus the Third wrote to the cities that, if he should write ordering anything to be done contrary to the laws, they should pay no attention, assuming that he had acted in ignorance.

Seeing the priestess of Artemis surpassingly beautiful in her appearance, he straightway marched forth from Ephesus, [*](In 196 B.C., presumably, when he wintered in Ephesus (Livy, xxxiii. 38).) for fear that even against his determination he might be constrained to commit some unholy act.

Antiochus who was nicknamed the Hawk was warring against his brother Seleucus for the kingdom. [*](In 246 B.C.) But when Seleucus, vanquished by the Galatians, could nowhere be found, but, to all appearances, had

Eumenes, plotted against by Perseus, was reputed to be dead. When the story was brought to Pergamum, Attalus his brother put on the crown, married his wife, and assumed the rule. But upon learning that his brother was approaching alive, he went to meet him, attended, as was his wont, by his bodyguards, and holding a short spear. Eumenes greeted him kindly and whispered in his ear,

—ldquo;Haste not to marry ere you see him dead,—rdquo; [*](Apparently a parody of a line of Sophocles adapted to fit the situation (μήπω μέγ᾽εἴπης, κλτ.). See Nauck, Trag. Graec. Frag., Sophocles, No. 601.)

The sons of Pyrrhus, when they were children

Being asked whether Python or Caphisias were the better flute-player he said, Polysperchon is the better general. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Pyrrhus, chap. viii. (387 D).)

When he was twice victorious in conflict with the Romans, but lost many of his friends and commanders, he said, If we are victorious over the Romans in one more battle, we are lost! [*](The details may be found ibid. chap. xxii. (397 B). The Pyrrhic victory is like the Cadmean victory, Moralia, 10 A.)