382 ARATUS. pied with devising how to take it by surprise from those that were then masters of it, since he despaired to do it by open force. Therefore Alexander, who held the place, being dead, poisoned by him, as is reported, and his wife Nicaea suc- ceeding in the government and the possession of Acro- Corinthus, he immediately made use of his son, Deme- trius, and, giving her pleasing hopes of a royal marriage and of a happy life with a youth, whom a woman now growing old might well find agi'eeable, with this lure of his son he succeeded in taking her ; but the jjlace itself she did nat deliver up, but continued to hold it with a very strong garrison, of which he seeming to take no notice, celebrated the wedding in Corinth, entertaining them with shows and banquets every day, as one that had nothing else in his mind but to give himself up for awhile to indulgence in pleasure and mirth. But when the mo- ment came, and Amoebeus began to sing in the theatre, he waited himself upon Nicaea to the play, she being car- ried in a royally-decorated cKair, extremely pleased with her new honor, not dreaming of what was intended. As soon, therefore, as they were come to the turning which led up to the citadel, he desired her to go on before him to the theatre, but for himself, bidding farewell to the music, farewell to the wedding, he went on faster than one would have thought his age would have admitted to the Acro-Corinthus_, and, finding the gate shut, knocked with his staff, commanding them to open, which they within, being amazed, did. And having thus made him- self master of the place, he could not contain himself for joy ; but, though an old man, and one that had seen so many turns of fortune, he must needs revel it in the open streets and the midst of the market-place, crowned with garlands and attended with flute-women, inviting everybody he met to partake in his festivity. So much
