beyond Euphrates, and almoft all Afia. And when he had heard that a fedition was raised in Egypt, he plundered the kingdom of Seleucus, and took forty thousand talents of filver, and precious veffels, and images of the gods, two thoufand and five hundred: among which were also thofe, which Cambyfes, after he had taken Egypt, had carried into Perfia. And for thus restoring their gods after many years, the Egyptians, who were a nation much addicted to idolatry, complimented him with the title of Euergetes or the benefactor. This is Jerome's account, extracted from ancient hiftorians: but there are authors ftill extant, who confirm feveral of the fame particulars. Appian informs us, that (4) Laodice having killed Antiochus, and after him both Berenice and her child, Ptolemy the fon of Philadelphus to revenge thefe murders invaded Syria, flew Laodice, and proceeded as far as to Babylon. From Polybius we learn,

ER EXELVS ogyny, seateVoas 85 της κατα Συρίαν τοπες, εγκρατής εγενετο ταύτης της πολεως. Adhuc

that (5) Ptolemy firnamed Euergetes, being greatly incenfed at the cruel treatment of his fifter Berenice, marched with an army into Syria, and took the city of Seleucia, which was kept for fome years afterwards by the garrisons of the kings of Egypt. Polyænus affirms, that (6) Ptolemy made himself master of all the country from mount Taurus as far as to India without war or battle but he afcribes it by mistake to the father instead of the fon. Juftin afferts, that (7) if Ptolemy had not been recalled by a domeftic fedition into Egypt, he would have poffeffed the whole kingdom of Seleucus. So the king of the fouth came into the kingdom of the north, and then returned into his own land. He likewife continued more years than the king of the north; for Seleucus Callinicus (8) died in exile of a fall from his horfe, and Ptolemy Euergetes (9) furvived him about four or five years.

illa tempeftate regum Egypti præfidiis tenebatur Seleucia, jam inde ab illis temporibus, cum Ptolemæus cognomento Euergeta, propter cafum Berenica Seleuco regi iratus bello Syriæ illato, ea urbe eft potitus. Polyb, Lib. 5. p. 402, 403. Edit. Cafaubon.

(6) απο το Ταυρο μέχρι της Ινδικης χωρίς πολεμε και μαχης sparnos a Tauro ufque ad In

But

diam abfque bello ac pugna fuperavit. Polyæni Strat. Lib. 8. Cap. 50. p. 802. Edit. Maasvicii.

(7) Qui nifi in Ægyptum domeftica feditione revocatus effet, totum regnum Seleuci occupaffet. Juftin. Lib. 27. Cap. 1.1

(8) Juftin. Lib. 27. Cap. 3. (9) See Ufher, Prideaux, Blair, and other chronologers. (1) Poft

H 3

But his fons, that is the fons of the king of the north, should endevor to vindicate and avenge the cause of their father and their country. But his Jons fhall be ftirred up, and fhall affemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through; then shall he return, and be firred up even to his fortress. (ver. 10.) The fons of Seleucus Callinicus were (1) Seleucus and Antiochus; the elder of whom, Seleucus, fucceeded him in the throne, and to diftinguish him from others of the fame name, was denominated Ceraunus or the thunderer. Where by the way one cannot help obferving the ridicu lous vanity of princes in affuming or receiving fuch pompous appellations without deferving them. Seleucus the father was firnamed Callinicus or the famous conqueror, though he was fo far from gaining any confiderable victory, that he was fhamefully beaten by the Egyptians in the weft, and was made a prifoner by the Parthians in the east. In like manner Seleucus the fon was called Ceraunus or the thunderer, though hẹ

(1) Poft fugam & mortem Seleuci Callinici, duo filii ejus Seleucus cognomento Ceraunus, et Antiochus qui appellatus eft Magnus, &c. Hieron, in locum. Col. 1124. Vol. 3. Edit. Benedict, Polyb. Lib. 4.p. 315. Edit. Cafaubon. Appian. de Bell. Syr. p. 131. Edit. Steph.

p. 211. Edit. Tollii.

was

(2) Σελευκῳ μεν δη, ασθένει τη οντι και πενομένῳ, και δυσπείθη τον τρατον έχοντι, επεβέλευσαν οι φίλοι δια φάρμακων, και ες ετη duo piva Bachev. Seleucus nec valetudine firmus nec opibus, exercitum in officio continere non potuit, veneno fub

latus

was fo far from performing any thing worthy of the name, that he was a poor and weak prince in all respects in mind and body and eftate, Great and fplendid titles, when improperly applied, are rather a fatir and infult upon the perfons, than any honor or commendation. Seleucus Ceraunus was indeed ftirred up, and affembled a multitude of great forces, in order to recover his father's dominions: but (2) being deftitute of money, and unable to keep his army in obedience, he was poifoned by two of his generals, after an inglorious reign of two or three years. Upon his decease his brother Antiochus Magnus, was proclaimed king, who was more deferving of the title of great, than Seleucus

was of that of the thunderer.

The prophet's expreffion is very (3) remarkable, that his fons fhould be stirred up, and assemble a multitude of great forces; but then the number is changed, and only one should certainly come, and overflow, and pass through. Accordingly (4) Antiochus came with a great army, retook Seleucia, and

by the means of Theodotus the Ætolian recovered Syria, making himself mafter of fome places by treaty, and of others by force of arms. Then (5) after a truce, wherein both fides treated of peace, but prepared for war, Antiochus returned, and overcame in battle Nicolaus the Egyptian general, and had thoughts of invading Egypt itself.

The king of Egypt at that time was Ptolemy Philopator, who was (6) advanced to the crown upon the death of his father Euergetes, not long after Antiochus Magnus fucceeded his brother in the throne of Syria. This Ptolemy was (7) a moft luxurious and vicious prince, but was roused at length by the near approach of danger. And the king of the fouth fhall be moved with choler, and fhall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he fhall fet forth a great multitude, but the multitude

(5) Polyb. ibid. p. 411, &c. Quumque pugnaffet adverfum duces ejus, imò proditione Theodoti obtinuiffet Syriam, quæ per fucceffionem jam a regibus Ægypti tenebatur, in

tantam venit audaciam contemta luxuria Philopatoris-ut ultrò Ægyptiis bellum conaretur inienie. Hieron. ibid. Antiochus rex Syriæ, veteri inter fe regnorum odio ftimulante, repentino bello multas urbes

Shall

ejus [Ptolemæi] oppreffit, ipfamque Egyptum aggreditur. Juftin. Lib. 30. Cap. 1.

(6) Ptolemæus in Can. Eufebius in Chron. Usher, Prideaux, and the Chronologers.

(7) Polyb. Lib. 5. p. 38c, &c. Edit. Cafaubon. Strabo, Lib. 17. p. 796. Edit. Paris. 1620. p. 1146. Edit. Amftel. 1707. Plutarch. in Cleomene, p.820. Edit. Paris. 1624. Juftin. Lib. 30. Cap. 1.

(8) Polyb.