Antiochus Marches Through Mesopotamia
When Antiochus had reached the Euphrates, and had
note
taken over the force stationed there, he once
more started on his march and got as far as Antioch, in Mygdonia, about mid-winter, and there
remained until the worst of the winter should
be over. Thence after a stay of forty days he advanced to
Libba. Molon was now in the neighbourhood of Babylon:
and Antiochus consulted his council as to the route to be
pursued, the tactics to be adopted, and the source from which
-- 404 --
provisions could best be obtained for his army on the march
in their expedition against Molon. The proposal of Hermeias
was to march along the Tigris, with this river, and the Lycus
and Caprus, on their flank. Zeuxis, having the fate of
Epigenes before his eyes, was in a state of painful doubt
whether to speak his real opinion or no; but as the mistake
involved in the advice of Hermeias was flagrant, he at last
mustered courage to advise that the Tigris should be crossed;
alleging as a reason the general difficulty of the road along
the river: especially from the fact that, after a considerable
march, the last six days of which would be through a desert,
they would reach what was called the "King's Dyke," which it
would be impossible to cross if they found it invested by the
enemy; while a retirement by a second march through the
wilderness would be manifestly dangerous, especially as their
provisions would be sure to be running short. On the other
hand he showed that if they crossed the Tigris it was evident
the Apolloniates would repent of their treason and join the
king; for even as it was they had submitted to Molon, not from
choice, but under compulsion and terror; and the fertility of
their soil promised abundance of provisions for the troops.
But his most weighty argument was that by their thus acting
Molon would be cut off from a return to Media, and from
drawing supplies from that country, and would thereby be
compelled to risk a general action: or, if he refused to do so,
his troops would promptly fix their hopes upon the king.
