Hermeias Overruled
When news of these events was brought to Antiochus, as
I have said before, he gave up all idea of the Coele-Syrian
campaign, and turned all his attention to this war. Another
meeting of his council was thereupon summoned: and on the
king ordering the members of it to deliver their opinions as to the
tactics to be employed against Molon, the first
to speak on the business was again Epigenes:
who said that "his advice should have been followed all along, and measures have been promptly
taken before the enemy had obtained such important successes:
still even at this late hour they ought to take it in hand
resolutely."
Epigenes put to death by the intrigues of Hermeias. |
Thereupon Hermeias broke out again into an
unreasonable and violent fit of anger and began to heap abuse
upon Epigenes; and while belauding himself in a fulsome
manner, brought accusations against Epigenes that were
absurd as well as false. He ended by adjuring the king not
to be diverted from his purpose without better reason, nor to
abandon his hopes in
Coele-Syria. This advice was ill-received
by the majority of the council, and displeasing to Antiochus
himself; and, accordingly, as the king showed great anxiety to
reconcile the two men, Hermeias was at length induced to
put an end to his invectives. The council decided by a
majority that the course recommended by Epigenes was the
most practical and advantageous, and a resolution was come
to that the king should go on the campaign against Molon,
and devote his attention to that. Thereupon Hermeias
promptly made a hypocritical pretence of having changed his
mind: and remarking that it was the duty of all to acquiesce
loyally in the decision, made a great show of readiness and
activity in pushing on the preparations.
