Page 633 should be kill'd. Whereupon being sorry that he had let him go, he sent some away to pursue him; but having follow'd him some little way, they return'd as they went. Antigonus was wont to slight these kind of Divinations in other Men, but at this time he was so amaz'd and affrighted with the high Esteem and Reputation of these Men, that he was very much disturb'd in his Thoughts: For they were judg'd to be Men very expert and skilful through their exact and diligent Observation of the Stars: And they affirm, that they and their Predecessors have study'd this Art of Astrology for above Twenty thousand Years. And what they had foretold concerning Alexander's Death, if he enter'd into Babylon; was found true by late Experience. And in truth, as those Predictions concerning Alexander came afterwards to pass, so what they now said relating to Seleucus were likewise in due time accomplish'd. Of which we shall treat particularly when we come to the Times proper for that purpose.
Seleucus, when he was got safe into Egypt, was entertain'd by Ptolemy with all the Expressions of Kindness and Affection that might be; where he bitterly complain'd against Antigonus, affirming that his Design was to expel all Persons of eminent Quality out of their Provinces, and especially such as were in Service under Alexander; which he back'd with Arguments from Pitho's being put to Death, and Peucestes being depriv'd of the Government of Persia, and from the Usage he himself had lately met with; and all these, though they had never done any thing to deserve it, but rather upon all Occasions perform'd all the Acts of Kindness and Service to him that was in their Power, and this was the Reward of all they reap'd from their Service. He reckon'd up likewise the Strength of his Forces, his great Treasure, and his late Successes, which so puff'd him up, that he was in hopes to gain the Sovereign Command over all the Macedonians.
Having by these Arguments stirr'd up Ptolemy to make War against him, he sent some of his Friends over into Europe, to prevail with Cassander and Lysimachus with the like Arguments to appear in Arms against Antigonus. Which Orders being forthwith executed, Foundations were laid for a mighty War, which afterwards follow'd.
Antigonus upon many probable Conjectures, conceiving what was Seleucus his design, sent Ambassadors to Ptolemy, Cassander, and Lysimachus, to desire them, that the ancient Friendship might be preserv'd and maintain'd amongst them. And then having made Pithon, who came out of India, Lord-Lieutenant of the Province of Babylon, he broke up his Camp, and march'd towards Cilicia. As soon as he came to Mallos, he distributed his Army into Winter-Quarters, about the Month of November: And he receiv'd out of the Treasury in the City of Quindi Ten thousand Talents, and Eleven thousand Talents out of the yearly Revenues of that Province. So that he was very formidable both in respect of his great Forces and the vastness of his Treasure. And now being remov'd into the Upper Syria, Ambassadors came to him from Ptolemy, Cassander, and Lysimachus, who being introduc'd as he sate in Council, demanded all Cappadocia and Lycia, to be be deliver'd up to Cassander; Phrygia, bordering upon the Hellespont, to Lystmachus; all Syria to Ptolemy; and the Province of Babylon to Seleucus; and all the common Stock of Moneys which he had incroach'd upon since the Battel with Eumenes, to be shar'd equally amongst them; which if he refus'd, then they were to let him know, that their Masters intended with their joint Forces to make War upon him. Whereunto he answer'd roughly, That he was now making a War upon Ptolemy; and thereupon, the Ambassadors return'd, without any effect of their Embassy: And upon this Answer, Ptolemy, Cassander, and Lysimachus entred into a League amongst themselves, and gathered their Forces together, and made it their business to provide Arms, and all other things necessary for the War.
And now Antigonus perceiving how many great and potent Adversaries had confederated against him, and what a Storm was ready to fall upon him, sought the Alliance and Confederacy of other Cities, Nations, and Princes; and to this purpose dispatch'd away Agisilaus to the King of Cyprus, Idomineus and Moschion to Rhodes, and one Ptolemy, his own Brother's Son, with an Army to raise the Siege of Amisus in Cappadocia, and to drive out those that were sent thither by Cassander. He commanded him likewise to go to the Hellespont, and fall upon Cassander, if he attempted to pass over out of Europe into Asia. He sent away likewise Aristodemus the Milesian, with a thousand Talents, with Orders to enter into a League of Amity with Alexander and Polysperchon, and to hire Soldiers, and make War upon Cassander: And he himself dispos'd Becons and Courriers throughout all Asia, which was wholly at his Command, hereby to give and get Knowledge of all things that pass'd, and to manage his Affairs with the greater Expedition.