weeping in a corner, and died a few days after him.

[Picture: Site of Susa, Ancient Metropolis of Persia]

CHAP. XXXI. THE LAST STRUGGLES OF ATHENS. B.C. 334-311.

[Picture: Decorative chapter heading]

The generals of Alexander met in dismay and grief the morning after his
death at Babylon, and Perdiccas sadly laid the ring on the empty throne.
There was no one to go on with what he had begun, for though he had a
brother named Arridaeus, the poor youth was weak in mind; and Alexander's
own son was a little, helpless infant. These two were joined together as
Kings of Macedon and Shahs of Persia, and four guardians were appointed
for them, who really only used their names as a means of getting power
for themselves.

The Greek cities had always hated the yoke of Macedon, and hoped that
Alexander would be lost in the East. They had been restless all this
time, and had only been kept down by the threats and the bribes of
Antipater, the governor of Macedon. When the news of Alexander's death
first came to Athens, the people were ready to make a great outbreak, but
the more cautious would not believe it, and Phocion advised them to wait,
"for," he said, "if he is dead to-day, he will still be dead to-morrow
and the next day, so that we may take council at our leisure."

Phocion was a good and honest man, but low-spirited, and he thought quiet
the only hope for Athens. When he found that the citizens were making a
great boasting, and were ready to rush into a war without counting the
cost, he said he would advise one only "whenever he saw the young men
ready to keep their ranks, the old men to pay the money, and the orators
to abstain from taking it for themselves." However, the Athenians made a
league with the Thessalians and other Greeks against Macedon, and put
their army under the command of Leosthenes, a young man to whom Phocion
said, "Your speeches are like cypress trees, stately and lofty, but
bearing no fruit." Leosthenes defeated Antipater and the Macedonians at
Lamia, and besieged them; but still Phocion had no hope, and when asked
whether he could wish for better success, he said, "No, but better
counsels."

Demosthenes had in the meantime been banished by the spite of some of his
secret enemies. He was very angry and bitter, and as he lived in AEgina,
whence he could still see the Acropolis and temple of Pallas Athene, he
exclaimed, "Goddess, what favourites thou