Demetrius

The Menelaüs of Sophocles[*](Nauck, Trag. Graec. Frag.2 p. 315.) applies this simile to his own fortunes:—

1. But my fate on the swiftly turning wheel of God
2. Goes whirling round forever and ever changes shape,
3. Just as the moon’s appearance for two kindly nights
4. Could never be identical and show no change,
5. But out of darkness first she comes forth young and new,
6. With face that ever grows more beautiful and full,
7. And when she reaches largest and most generous phase,
8. Again she vanisheth away and comes to naught.

This simile might be better used of the fortunes of Demetrius, now waxing and now waning, now full-orbed and now diminished, since even at this time, when his power seemed to fail altogether and suffer extinction, it shot forth new rays of light, and sundry accessions of strength little by little filled out the measure of his hopes. At first he went about visiting the cities in the garb of a private man and without the insignia of a king, and one who saw him thus at Thebes applied to him, not inaptly, the verses of Euripides[*](Bacchae, 4 f., with adaptation from the first person.):—

1. Exchanging now the form of god for that of man,
2. He visits Dirce’s rivulets and Ismenus’ flood.

But as soon as he had entered upon the path of hope, as upon a royal highway, and had gathered about himself a body and form of sovereignty, he restored to the Thebans their ancient form of government; the Athenians, however, revolted from him. They voted to elect archons, as had been their custom of old, and took away from Diphilus, who had been appointed priest of the Saviour-gods, the privilege of giving his name to the current year;[*](See chapter x. 3.) and when they saw that Demetrius had more strength than they expected, they summoned Pyrrhus to their aid from Macedonia. Demetrius came up against them in a rage, and began a strenuous siege of the city.

But the people sent to him Crates the philosopher, a man of great repute and influence, and Demetrius, partly because he was induced to grant the ambassador’s appeals in behalf of the Athenians, and partly because he was convinced when the philosopher showed him what would be an advantageous course, raised the siege, and after assembling all the ships he had,[*](See chapter xliii. 3. ) and putting on board eleven thousand soldiers, together with his cavalry, he sailed for Asia, to wrest Caria and Lydia from Lysimachus.

He was met at Miletus by Eurydicé, a sister of Phila, who brought with her one of her daughters by Ptolemy, Ptolemaïs, who had been betrothed to Demetrius before this[*](As early as 301 B.C. Cf. chapter xxxii. 3.) through the agency of Seleucus. Demetrius married her now, and Eurydicé gave the bride away. After the marriage Demetrius at once turned his arms against the cities, many of which attached themselves to him of their own accord, and many also he forced into submission.