heard Neoptolemus say to his sister. When Pyrrhus heard this he did
not act at once; but when next he offered sacrifice he invited
Neoptolemus to dinner and killed him, as he knew that the strongest
party in Epirus was on his side, and had often urged him to rid
himself of Neoptolemus and not be satisfied with a mere share of the
crown, but to engage in the great designs which his genius prompted.
These considerations, together with the suspicions which he had of
Neoptolemus's treachery, induced him to be beforehand with him by
putting him to death.

VI. In memory of Berenike and Ptolemy he named a boy who was now born
to him Ptolemy, and gave the name of Berenike to a city which he
founded on the peninsula of Epirus. He now began to revolve great
designs, casting his eyes especially upon the territory of his
neighbours; and he was soon enabled to interfere in the affairs of
Macedonia on the following grounds. The elder of the sons of Kassander
put his mother, Thessalonika, to death, and drove his younger brother
Alexander into exile. This prince now applied both to Demetrius and to
Pyrrhus for aid. Demetrius was engaged in other matters and was slow
to render him any assistance, but Pyrrhus offered his services,
demanding as the price of his assistance the districts called Stymphaea
and Paranaea in Macedon itself, and of the Macedonian conquests
Ambrakia, Akarnania, and Amphilochia. The youth agreed to these terms,
and Pyrrhus at once occupied those countries, which he secured by
garrisoning their fortresses, while he began to press Antipater hard
in his endeavours to gain the remainder of Macedonia for his brother.
At this time king Lysimachus, an eager partisan of Antipater, was too
much occupied with other matters to send him any material help, but,
knowing that Pyrrhus would never disoblige or thwart Ptolemy in
anything, sent a forged letter to him, in which it was stated to be
Ptolemy's desire that he should withdraw his forces on the receipt of
three hundred talents from Antipater. Pyrrhus, however, as soon as he
opened the letter saw the deceit; for it did not begin with Ptolemy's
usual greeting to him, "The father to the son wishes health" but "King
Ptolemy to king Pyrrhus wishes health." He reproached Lysimachus for
his conduct, but nevertheless made a peace, which they all met to
ratify by a solemn oath upon a sacrifice. A bull, a boar, and a ram
were brought to the altar, when suddenly the ram fell down dea