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 res, oct 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 hav ing projected the design of flying to the Romans, through Ponia, 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 fa ther nevertheless did not declare himself publicly against him, resolving to make away with him secretly; n't cut of regard to his son, but lest the noise which the bria ing him to execu❤ tion would make, should discover too visibly the de. igns he pro❤ jected against Rome. At Eis leaving Thessalonica to go for Demetrias, he commanded Didas to dispatch the young prince. The latter having ce! D metrius wi à him into Paonia, poisoned him at an ententia car that was me after a sacri fice. Demetrius had n Sower drink the deadly draught, but he found himself seiz i with vi cati ins. He withdrew to his apartment, compi ingeriv of his father's crucity, and loudly charging his brother ith the crime of fratricide, and Didas with his barbarus ne chery. His pains increasing, two of Didas's dome is CL Cred the room, threw blankets over his head, and stiled hi. 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 rearse, incessantly deplored his son's murder, and repro ched himself with his cruelty. His surviving son, who looked upon himself ready 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 even not waiting for it.

* A. M. 3825. Ant. J. C. 179. Liv. l. xl. n. 54-57.

Among those who had access to him, Antigonus held the first rank. He was nephew of another * Antigonus, who had been Philip's guardian, and under that name, and in that qua. lity, had reigned 10 years. This worthy man had always continued inviolably attached, both from duty and affection, to the person of his prince, in 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 on, 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 his utmost endeavours to trace out the secret intrigues of Perseus's conspiracy.

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 Apelles 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 66 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 intimidat

He was surnamed Doson.

ed. Accordingly, the instant that the officer of justice appear. ed, 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 seize ed; 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, after 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 gasp. All these things only revived the sorrow of Philip; a father equally wretched, whether he turned his reflec tions, to his murdered son, or to him who was still living.

Perseus being informed that his whole plot had been disco. vered, 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 his uncle Antigonus's recent fame and glory, 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 befal 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 fide

"

lity, but enlarged considerably by his valour. I know no 66 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 only bewailed the untimely death of my "dear son, and the unhappy credulity which proved his de4struction."

After this, he bestowed the highest honours on Antigonus,

and took every opportunity of producing him in the most advantageous light to the public. Whilst Perseus resided in Thrace, Philip made a progress 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 but 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 immedi ately 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 dispatched couriers to Perseus; it having been agreed between them, that he should keep some in readiness for that purpose; and he concealed the king's death from eve ry 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.

He reigned 11 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 Perseus's history, which has scarce any connection 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 PHILOPATER DIES, AND IS SUCCEEDED BY ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES. DISTURBANCES IN EGYPT AND PALESTINE.

Seleucus Philopater did not reign long in Asia,

nor did he

perform any memorable action. Under him happened the fa

mous 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 ob served 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 highpriest 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 400 talents of silver (about 50,000l. sterling), and 200 talents of gold (about 300,000. sterling). However, the minister sent from that prince, 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 the 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 2 Maccab. iii. I

VOL. VII.