Polybius, Histories

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Character of Eumenes

King Eumenes was entirely broken in bodily strength,

Death and character of Eumenes, B. C. 159.

but still maintained his brilliancy of mind. He was a man who in most things was the equal of any king of his time; and in those which were the most important and honourable, was greater and more illustrious than them all.

He raised his kingdom to the first rank;

First, he succeeded his father in a kingdom reduced to a very few insignificant cities; and he raised it to the level of the largest dynasties of his day. And it was not chance which contributed to this, or a mere sudden catastrophe, it was his own acuteness, indefatigable industry, and personal labour.

was exceedingly bountiful;

Again, he was exceedingly ambitious of establishing a good reputation, and showed it by doing good services to a very large number of cities, and enriching privately a great many men. And in the third place, he had three brothers grown up and active, and he kept all four of them loyal to himself, and acting as guards of his person and preservers of the kingdom: and that is a thing of which there are very rare instances in history. . . .

and was loyally served by four brothers.

On succeeding his brother Eumenes on the throne, Attalus

Attalus restores Ariarathes.

at once gave a specimen of his principles and activity by restoring Ariarathes to his kingdom.¹ . . .