DEMETRIUS. 129 contracted an illness, of which she died. After her death. Demetrius, by the mediation of Seleucus, became recon- ciled to Ptolemy, and an agreement was made that he should marry his daughter Ptolemais. Thus far all was handsomely done on the part of Seleucus. But, shortly after, desiring to have the province of Cilicia from Deme- trius for a sum of money, and being refused it, he then angrily demanded of hun the cities of Tyre and Sidon, which seemed a mere piece of arbitrary dealing, and, indeed, an outrageous thing, that he, who was possessed of all the vast provinces between India and the Syrian sea, should think himself so poorly off as for the sake of two cities, which he coveted, to disturb the peace of his near con- nection, already a sufferer under a severe reverse of for- tune. However, he did but justify the saying of Plato, that the only certain way to be truly rich is not to have more property, but fewer desires. For whoever is always grasping at more avows that he is still in want, and must be poor in the midst of affiuence. But Demetrius, whose courage did not sink, resolutely sent him answer, that, though he were to lose ten thou- sand battles like that of Ipsus, he would pay no price for the good-will of such a son-in-law as Seleucus. He rein- forced these cities with sufficient garrisons to enable them to make a defence against Seleucus; and, re- cei'ing information that Lachares, taking the opportu- nity of theii' civil dissensions, had set up himself as an usurjDer over the Athenians, he imagined that if he made a sudden attempt upon the city, he might now without difficulty get possession of it. He crossed the sea in safety, with a large fleet ; but, passing along the coast of Attica, was met by a violent storm, and lost the greater number of his ships, and a very considerable body of men on board of them. As for him, he escaped, and began to make war in a petty manner with the Athenians, but, VOL. V. 9
