friend of Demetrius, was seized, and strict orders were given to keep a watchful eye over the prince. Philip, at his return to Macedon, was seized with a deep melancholy. This last attempt of Demetrius went to his heart. He thought, however, that it would be proper for him to wait till the return of the ambassadors whom he had sent to Rome, and who had been taught their lesson before they left Macedon. They reported exactly whatever had been dictated to them; and presented the king with a forged letter, sealed with the counterfeit seal of T. Quintius, in which he desired Philip, not to be offended at his son Demetrius, for some unguarded expressions which might have escaped him, with respect to the succession to the crown; assuring him, that he would not engage in any attempt contrary to the ties of blood and nature." He concluded with observing, "that it was never in his thoughts to give him such counsel." This letter confirmed all that Perseus had advanced against his brother. Herodotus was put to the torture, and died on the rack, without charging his master with any thing. Perseus again accused his brother before the king. His having projected the design of flying to the Romans, through Poonia, and of bribing certain persons to accompany him in his flight, was imputed to him. But the circumstance which bore hardest against him, was the forged letter of Quintius. His father nevertheless did not declare himself publicly against him, resolving to make away with him secretly; not out of regard to his son, but lest the noise which the bringing him to execution would make, should discover too visibly the designs he projected against Rome. At his leaving Thessalonica to go to Demetrias, he commanded Didas to despatch the young prince. The latter having carried Demetrius with him into Poonia, poisoned him at an entertainment that was made after a sacrifice. Demetrius had no sooner drank the deadly draught, but he found himself seized with violent pains. He withdrew to his apartment, complaining bitterly of his father's cruelty, and loudly charging his brother with the crime of fratricide, and Didas with his barbarous treachery. His pains increasing, two domestics entered the room, threw blankets over his head, and stifled him. Such was the end of this young prince, who deserved a much better fate. Almost two years were elapsed, before the conspiracy of Perseus against his brother was discovered. In the mean time, Philip, tortured by grief and remorse, incessantly deplored his son's murder, and reproached himself with his cruelty. His surviving son, who looked upon himself already as king, and to whom the courtiers began to attach themselves, from the expectation that he would soon be their sovereign, gave him no less pain. It was infinitely shocking to him to see his old age despised; some waiting with the utmost impatience for his death, and others not even waiting for it.* Among those who had access to him, Antigonus held the first rank. He was nephew to another Antigonus, surnamed Doson, who had been Philip's guardian; and under that name, and in that quality, had reigned ten years. This worthy man had always continued inviolably attached, both from duty and affection, to the person of his prince, in the midst of the tumults and cabals of the court. Perseus had never cared for him; but this inviolable attachment to his father made him his professed enemy. Antigonus plainly perceived the danger to which he would be exposed, when that prince should succeed to the crown. Finding that Philip began to fluctuate in thought, and would, from time to time, sigh and weep for his son Demetrius, he thought it proper to take advantage of that disposition; when sometimes listening to his discourse on that subject, at other times beginning it himself, and regretting the precipitate manner in which that affair had been carried, he entered into his sentiments and complaints, and thereby gave them new force. And as truth always leaves some footsteps, by which it may be discerned, he used * A. M. 3825. Ant. J. C. 179. Liv. 1. xl. n. 54-57. his utmost endeavours to trace out the secret intrigues of the conspiracy of Perseus. The persons who had the greatest concern in that black affair, and of whom the strongest suspicion might be entertained, were Apelles and Philocles, who had been sent ambassadors to Rome; and had brought from thence, as in the name of Quintius Flamininus, the letter which had proved so fatal to the young prince. It was generally whispered at court, that this whole letter was forged; but still this was only conjecture, and there was no proof of it. Very luckily, Xychus, who had accompanied A pelles and Philocles, in quality of secretary of the embassy, happened upon some occasion to apply to Antigonus, immediately he put him under an arrest, caused him to be carried to the palace, and leaving him under a strong guard, went to Philip. "I imagined," says he, "royal sir, from several things I have heard you say, that nothing could give you greater pleasure, than to know exactly what idea you ought to entertain of your two sons; and to discover which of them it was that made an attempt on the other's life. You now have in your power the man who is best able to give you a perfect account of that whole affair, and this is Xychus. He is now in your palace, and you may command him to be sent for." Xychus being immediately brought in, he first denied every thing; but he spoke so very faintly, that it was evident he would make a full discovery, upon being ever so little intimidated. Accordingly, the instant that the officer of justice appeared, he made a full confession, revealed the whole intrigue of the ambassadors, and the share he himself had in it. Immediately Philocles, who happened to be in court at that time, was seized; but Apelles, who was absent, hearing that Xychus had made a full discovery, fled to Italy. History does not inform us of the particulars which were extorted from Philocles. Some pretend, that having resolutely denied the charge at first, he was utterly confounded upon his being confronted with Xychus. According to other historians, he bore the torture with the utmost fortitude, and asserted his innocence to the last. All these things only revived the sorrow of Philip; a father equally wretched, whether he turned his reflections to his murdered son, or to him who was still living. Perseus, being informed that his whole plot had been discovered, knew too well his own power and credit, to believe it necessary to secure himself by flight. The only precaution he took was, a resolution to keep at a distance from court, as long as his father should live, in order to withdraw himself from his resentment. Philip did not believe it in his power to seize Perseus, and bring him to condign punishment. The only thought he then entertained was, to prevent his enjoying with impunity the fruits of his inhuman guilt. In this view, he sent for Antigonus, to whose great care he owed the discovery of the conspiracy; and whom he judged very well qualified, both on account of his personal merit, and of the recent fame and glory of his uncle Antigonus, to fill the Macedonian throne. "Reduced," says Philip," to the deplorable necessity of wishing that my fate, which other fathers detest as the most dreadful calamity that can befall them, the being childless, I now am resolving to bequeath to you a kingdom, which I owe to the guardianship of your uncle; and which he not only preserved by his fidelity, but enlarged considerably by his valour. I know no man worthy of the crown but yourself. And were there none capable of wearing it with dignity, I had infinitely rather it should be lost for ever, than that Perseus should have it as the reward of his impious perfidy. Methinks, I shall see Demetrius rise from the sepulchre, and restored to his father, if I can be so happy as to substitute you in his place; you, who alone bewailed the untimely death of my dear son and the unhappy credulity which proved his destruction." After this, he bestowed the highest honours on Antigonus, and took every opportunity of producing him in the most advantageous light to the public. While Perseus resided in Thrace, Philip made a tour through several cities of Macedon, and recommended Antigonus to all the noblemen of the greatest distinction, with the utmost zeal and affection; and, had fate allowed him a longer life, it was not doubted that he would have put him in possession of the throne. Having left Demetrias, he made a considerable stay in Thessalonica, from whence he went to Amphipolis, where he fell dangerously ill. The physicians declared, that his sickness proceeded more from his mind than his body. Grief kept him continually awake; and he frequently imagined he saw, in the dead of night, the ghost of the ill-fated Demetrius, reproaching him with his death, and calling down curses on his head. He expired, bewailing one of his sons, with a shower of tears, and venting the most horrid imprecations against the other. Antigonus might have been raised to the throne, had the king's death been immediately divulged. Calligenes the physician, who presided in all the consultations, did not stay till the king had breathed his last; but the very instant he saw that it was impossible for him to recover, he despatched couriers to Perseus; it having been agreed between them, that he should keep them in readiness for that purpose; and he concealed the king's death from every body out of the palace, till Perseus appeared, whose sudden arrival surprised all people. He then took possession of the crown which he had acquired by guilt. Perseus reigned eleven years, the four last of which were employed in war against the Romans, for which he made preparations from his accession to the throne. At last, Paulus Æmilius gained a famous victory over him, which put an end to the kingdom of Macedon. To prevent my being obliged to divide and interrupt the series of his history, which has scarcely any connexion with that of the other kings, I shall refer it to the following book, where it shall be related at large, and without interruption. SECTION II.-SELEUCUS PHILOPATOR DIES, AND IS SUCCEEDED BY ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES. DISTURBANCES IN EGYPT AND PALESTINE. SELEUCUS PHILOPATOR did not reign long in Asia, nor did he perform any memorable action. Under him happened the famous incident concerning Heliodorus, related in the second book of Maccabees.* The holy city of Jerusalem enjoyed at that time profound tranquillity. Onias the high-priest, inspired by a spirit of piety, caused the laws of God to be strictly observed there; and prompted even kings and idolatrous princes to have the holy place in the highest veneration. They honoured it with rich gifts; and king Seleucus furnished, from his own private revenues, all that was necessary for the solemnization of the sacrifices. Nevertheless, the perfidy of a Jew, called Simon, governor of the temple, raised on a sudden a great disorder in the city. This man, to revenge himself of the opposition which Onias the high-priest made to his unjust enterprises, informed the king, that there were immense treasures in the temple, which were not designed for the service of the sacrifices, and that he might seize upon them all. The king, on this information, sent Heliodorus, his first minister, to Jerusalem, with orders to carry off all those treasures. , Heliodorus, after having been received by the high-priest with honours of every kind, told him the motive of his journey; and asked him, whether the information that had been given to the king, with regard to the treasure, was true? The high-priest told him, that these treasures were only deposited there as in trust, and were allotted to the maintenance of widows and orphans; that he could not in any manner dispose of them in wrong of those to whom they belonged, and who imagined that they could not secure them better, than by depositing them in a temple, the holiness of which was revered throughout the whole universe. This treasure consisted of four hundred talents of silver, and of two hundred talents of gold. However, the minister sent from that prince, 2 Maccabees, iii. insisting on the orders he had received from court, told him plainly, that this money, whatever might be the consequence, must all be carried to the king. The day appointed for carrying it off being come, Heliodorus came to the temple, with the resolution to execute his commission. Immediately, the whole city was seized with the utmost terror. The priests, dressed in their sacerdotal vestments, fell prostrate at the foot of the altar; beseeching the God of heaven, who enacted the law with regard to deposits, to preserve those laid up in his temple. Great numbers flocked in crowds, and jointly besought the Creator upon their knees, not to suffer so holy a place to be profaned. The women and maidens, covered with sackcloth, were seen lifting up their hands to heaven. It was a spectacle truly worthy of compassion, to sce such multitudes, and especially the high-priest, pierced with the deepest affliction, on account of so impious a sacrilege. By this time, Heliodorus, with his guards, had arrived at the gate of the treasury, and was preparing to break it open. But the Spirit of the Almighty now revealed itself by the most sensible mark ;* insomuch that all those who had dared to obey Heliodorus were struck down by a divine power, and seized with a terror which bereaved them of all their faculties. For there appeared to them a horse, richly caparisoned, which, rushing at once upon Heliodorus, struck him several times with his fore feet. The man who sat on this horse, had a terrible aspect, and his arms seemed of gold. At the same time were seen, two young men, whose beauty dazzled the eye, and who, standing on each side of Heliodorus, scourged him incessantly, and in the most violent manner, with their whips. Heliodorus, falling from his horse, was taken up and put into his litter; and this man, who a moment before had come into the temple, followed by a great train of guards, was forced away from this holy place, and had no one to succour him; and that because the power of God had displayed itself in the strongest manner. By the same power he was cast to the ground, speechless, and without showing the least sign of life; while the temple, which before resounded with nothing but lamentations, now echoed with the shouts of all the people, who returned thanks to the Almighty, for having raised the glory of his holy temple by the effect of his power. But now some of the friends of Heliodorus besought the high-priest to invoke God in his favour. Immediately Onias offered a sacrifice for his health. While he was praying, the two young men, above mentioned, appeared to Heliodorus, and said to him, "Return thanks to Onias the high-priest; for it is for his sake that the Lord has granted your life. After having been scourged from heaven, declare to the whole world his miraculous power." Having spoken these words, they vanished. Heliodorus offered up sacrifices, and made solemn vows to him who had restored him to life. He returned thanks to Onias, and went his way; declaring to every one the wonderful works of the Almighty, to which he himself had been an eye witness. The king asking him, whether he believed that another person might be sent with safety to Jerusalem, he answered, "In case you have an enemy, or any traitorous wretch who has a design upon your crown, send him thither, and you will see him return back quite flayed with scourging, and he perhaps may die under it. For he who inhabiteth the heavens, is himself present in that place; he is the guardian and protector of it; and he strikes those mortally who go thither to injure it." The king was soon punished for this sacrilegious act, by the very man whom he had commanded to plunder the temple. Antiochus the Great having, after his defeat at Sypilus, concluded the ignominious peace with the Romans before mentioned, had given them, among other hostages, Antiochus, one of his sons, and the younger brother of Seleucus. He resided thirteen years in Rome. Seleucus his brother wanted him, but for what reason is not known, perhaps * Sed Spiritus omnipotentis Dei magnam fecit suæ ostentationis evidentiam. 121 to put him at the head of some military expedition which he might judge him capable of executing; and to obtain him, he sent Demetrius, his only son, who was but twelve years of age, to Rome, as a hostage in the room of Antiochus.* During the absence of the two heirs to the crown, one of whom was gone to Rome, and the other not returned from it, Heliodorus imagined he might, with very little difficulty, seize upon it, by taking off Seleucus; and, accordingly, he poisoned him.f 66 In this manner was fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel. After speaking of the death of Antiochus the Great, he adds, “ Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom; but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger nor in battle." These few words denote, evidently, the short and obscure reign of Seleucus, and the kind of death he was to die. The Hebrew text points him out still more clearly. There shall arise up in his place," of Antiochus," a man who, as an extortioner, a collector of taxes, shall cause to pass away, and shall destroy, the glory of the kingdom." And, indeed, this was the sole employment of his reign. He was obliged to furnish the Romans, by the articles of the peace concluded between them, a thousand talents annually; and the twelve years of this tribute exactly end with his life. He reigned but eleven years. Antiochus, afterwards surnamed Epiphanes, who was returning from Rome into Syria, had advice brought at Athens, of the death of his brother Seleucus. He was told, that the usurper had a very strong party, but that another was forming in favour of Ptolemy, whose claim was founded in right of his mother, the late king's sister. Antiochus had recourse to Eumenes king of Pergamus, and to Attalus his brother, who seated him on the throne, after having expelled Heliodorus. The prophet Daniel, from verse 21, of chapter xi. to the end of chapter xii. fortells every thing that was to befall Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a cruel persecutor of the Jews, and who is pointed out elsewhere by the "little horn which was to issue out of one of the four large horns." ¶ I shall explain this prophecy hereafter. Here, chap xi. ver. 21, the prophet describes his accession to the throne. "And in his (Seleucus) estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom; but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." The conduct of Antiochus shall show how vile he was. It is said, " that to him they shall not give the honours of the kingdom." He did not obtain the crown, either by right of birth, as his brother Seleucus had left behind him a son who was his lawful heir, or by the free choice of the people; Eumenes and Attalus having set it on his head. Being returned from the west "peaceably, or rather secretly," to surprise his rival, he won the hearts of the people by his artifices, and a specious appearance of clemency. He assumed the title of Epiphanes, that is, the Illustrious; which title was never worse applied. The whole series of his life will show, that he deserved much more that of "Epimenes, Mad or Furious," which some people gave him. ** Some circumstances related of him prove how justly the epithet vile is bestowed upon him in Scripture. He used frequently to go out of his palace, accompanied only by two or three domestics, and ramble up and down the streets of Antioch. He would spend his time in talking with goldsmiths and engravers in their shops; and in disputing with them on the most minute particulars relating to the arts they professed, and which he ridiculously boasted he understood as well as they. He would very often stoop so low as to converse with the dregs of the populace, and mix indiscriminately with them in Appian in Syr. p. 116. The Hebrew word may signify either days or years. Appian. in Syr. p. 116, 117. Hieron. in Dan. † A. M. 3829. Ant. J. C. 175.. |