camp near Beroea, many came out from that city loudly
praising Pyrrhus, as an invincible warrior and a great man, who had
treated the vanquished with kindness and magnanimity. Some of these
were emissaries of Pyrrhus himself, disguised as Macedonians, who said
that now was the time for them to relieve themselves from the harsh
tyranny of Demetrius by adopting Pyrrhus, a popular man and a true
friend of the soldier, as their king. The greater part of Demetrius's
troops was much excited by this means, and when the two armies met
face to face, all eyes were turned in search of the hero. For a time
they could not find him, for he had taken off his helmet; but when he
had put it on again, and enabled them to recognise him by the lofty
crest, and the goat's horns at the sides, the Macedonian soldiers
quitted their ranks, and came running up to ask him, as their chief,
for the pass-word. Others, seeing that his attendants wore garlands of
oak-leaves, crowned themselves in like manner. Some already ventured
to tell Demetrius that his best course would be to give up all as
lost: and he, observing, that this advice seemed to be borne out by
the temper of his army, withdrew in terror, disguised in a mean dress,
and a broad-brimmed Macedonian hat. Pyrrhus, advancing without
striking a blow, obtained possession of his enemy's camp, and was
saluted king of the Macedonians.

XII. Lysimachus soon appeared upon the scene, pointed out that the
fall of Demetrius was as much due to his own exertions as to those of
Pyrrhus, and demanded a partition of Macedonia. To this Pyrrhus, not
yet certain of the loyalty of his new subjects, was obliged to
consent. This measure was beneficial for the moment, as it prevented
their going to war; but soon it became apparent that the partition was
a source of endless quarrels and recriminations. For when men are
ambitious to such a degree that no seas, mountains, or wildernesses,
nay not even the boundaries of Europe and Asia, will serve as barriers
to their frantic desire for more territory, it is not to be expected
that they will remain quiet when their frontiers touch one another,
but they always are at war, from the natural jealousy of their
disposition. The names of peace and war they use as mere symbols, as
it suits their convenience, and they are really better men when they
are openly at war than when they give the name of peace and friendship
to a cessation of active wickedness. The truth of this