40.56
On
being informed that everything had been disclosed, Perseus, whilst feeling
himself strong enough to avoid the necessity of flight, took care,
nevertheless, to keep well out of the way, and prepared to protect himself
from the flames of his father's wrath, as long as he was alive. Philip, hopeless
of being able to inflict punishment on the person of his son, made it his aim
to prevent him, whilst escaping punishment, from enjoying the rewards of his
wickedness as well. Accordingly he summoned Antigonus, to whom he was
under such obligations for the detection of the fratricide, and who he
thought, owing to the glory recently won by his uncle, Antigonus, might be
one whom the Macedonians would not be ashamed of or disappointed in as
their king. "Antigonus," he began, "now that my condition is such that the
childlessness which other fathers regard as a curse I am compelled to regard
as a thing to be wished for, I have resolved to leave to you the kingdom
which your gallant uncle not only defended but augmented by his fidelity and
watchfulness. You are the only one I have whom I judge worthy of the
crown; if I had no one I would rather have my kingdom perish and disappear
than that Perseus should have it as the prize of treachery and murder. I
should feel that Demetrius had been recalled from the tomb, if I could leave
you to take his place, you who have shed tears over the death of an innocent
victim and wept at my terrible mistake."
From this time he was continually advancing him from one honour
to another. Whilst Perseus was away in Thrace, Philip made a progress
through the cities of Macedonia, and recommended Antigonus to their
leading men, and had he lived longer he would undoubtedly have left him in
actual possession of the crown. Leaving Demetrias, he stopped for a
considerable time at Thessalonica. From there he travelled to Amphipolis,
and here he became seriously ill. But he was more sick in mind than in body.
He was a prey to gloomy fears and sleeplessness; again and again the form
and shade of his innocent murdered son threw him into violent agitation. He
died whilst invoking terrible curses on the other one. Antigonus could,
however, have been warned, had he been at hand, or had the king's death
been openly announced in the palace. Calligenes, the head physician, did not
anticipate it so soon. When the case became hopeless he sent the news as
had been mutually agreed, to Perseus by a relay of messengers and concealed
the fact from all outside the palace pending his arrival.
