Pyrrhus   

all that, king: and should have said more if we had had more wine;"
he laughed and discharged them. After Antigone's death, he married
several wives to enlarge his interest and power. He had the daughter
of Autoleon, King of the Paeonians, Bircenna, Bardyllis the Illyrian's
daughter, Lanassa, daughter of Agathocles the Syracusan, who brought
with her in dower the city of Corcyra, which had been taken by Agathocles.
By Antigone he had Ptolemy, Alexander by Lanassa, and Helenus, his
youngest son, by Bircenna: he brought them up all in arms, hot and
eager youths, and by him sharpened and whetted to war from their very
infancy. It is said, when one of them, while yet a child, asked him
to which he would leave the kingdom, he replied, to him that had the
sharpest sword, which indeed was much like that tragical curse of
Oedipus to his sons:-
"Not by the lot decide,
But within the sword the heritage divide." So unsocial and wild-beast-like
is the nature of ambition and cupidity.
After this battle Pyrrhus, returning gloriously home, enjoyed his
fame and reputation, and being called "Eagle" by the Epirots, "By
you," said he, "I am an eagle; for how should I not be such, while
I have your arms as wings to sustain me?" A little after, having intelligence
that Demetrius was dangerously sick, he entered on a sudden into Macedonia,
intending only an incursion, and to harass the country; but was very
near seizing upon all, and taking the kingdom without a blow. He marched
as far as Edessa unresisted, great numbers deserting and coming in
to him. This danger excited Demetrius beyond his strength, and his
friends and commanders in a short time got a considerable army together,
and with all their forces briskly attacked Pyrrhus, who, coming only
to pillage, would not stand a fight, but retreating, lost part of
his army, as he went off, by the close pursuit of the Macedonians.
Demetrius, however, although he had easily and quickly forced Pyrrhus
out of the country, yet did not slight him, but having resolved upon
great designs, and to recover his father's kingdom with an army of
one hundred thousand men, and a fleet of five hundred ships, would
neither embroil himself with Pyrrhus, nor leave the Macedonians so
active and troublesome a neighbour; and since he had no leisure to
continue the war with him, he was willing to treat and conclude a
peace, and to turn his forces upon the other kings. Articles being
agreed upon, the designs of Demetrius quickly discovered themselves
by the greatness of his preparation. And the other kings, being alarmed,
sent to Pyrrhus ambassadors and letters, expressing their wonder that
he should choose to let his own opportunity pass by, and wait till
Demetrius could use his; and whereas he was now able to chase him
out of Macedon, involved in designs and disturbed, he should expect
till Demetrius at leisure, and grown great, should bring the war home
to his own door, and make him fight for his temples and sepulchres
in Molossia; especially having so lately, by his means, lost Corcyra
and his wife together. For Lanassa had taken offence at Pyrrhus for
too great an inclination to those wives of his that were barbarians,
and so withdrew to Corcyra, and desiring to marry some king, invited
Demetrius, knowing of all the kings he was most ready to entertain
offers of marriage; so he sailed thither, married Lanassa, and placed
a garrison in the city. The kings having written thus to Pyrrhus,
themselves likewise contrived to find Demetrius work, while he was
delaying and making his preparations. Ptolemy, setting out with a
great fleet, drew off many of the Greek cities. Lysimachus out of
Thrace wasted the upper Macedon; and Pyrrhus, also taking arms at
the same time, marched to Beroea, expecting, as it fell out, that
Demetrius, collecting his forces against Lysimachus, would leave the
lower country undefended. That very night he seemed in his sleep to
be called by Alexander the Great, and approaching saw him sick abed,
but was received with very kind words, and much respect, and promised
zealous assistance. He making bold to reply, "How, sir, can you, being
sick, assist me?" "With my name," said he, and mounting Nisaean horse,
seemed to lead the way. At the sight of this vision he was much assured,