§18.33.1Ἀντίπατρος δὲ τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς φυγῆς διασωθέντας ἐκδεξάμενος καὶ προσαναλαβὼν προῆγεν ἐπὶ Κιλικίαν, σπεύδων βοηθῆσαι τῷ Πτολεμαίῳ.
Antipater, having received and reorganized those who had been saved from the flight, advanced toward Cilicia, hastening to aid Ptolemy.
Περδίκκας δὲ πυθόμενος τὴν κατὰ τὸν Εὐμενῆ νίκην πολλῷ θρασύτερος ἐγένετο πρὸς τὴν εἰς Αἴγυπτον στρατείαν· ὡς δʼ ἐγγὺς ἐγένετο τοῦ Νείλου, κατεστρατοπέδευσεν οὐ μακρὰν πόλεως Πηλουσίου.
Perdiccas, having learned of the victory on Eumenes' side, became much bolder toward the expedition to Egypt; and when he got near the Nile, he encamped not far from the city of Pelusium.
§18.33.2ἐπιχειρήσας δὲ διώρυγά τινα παλαιὰν ἀνακαθαίρειν καὶ τοῦ ποταμοῦ λάβρως ἐκραγέντος καὶ τὰ ἔργα λυμηναμένου πολλοὶ τῶν φίλων ἐγκαταλιπόντες ἀπεχώρησαν πρὸς τὸν Πτολεμαῖον· §18.33.3καὶ γὰρ φονικὸς ἦν καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἡγεμόνων περιαιρούμενος τὰς ἐξουσίας καὶ καθόλου πάντων βουλόμενος ἄρχειν βιαίως, ὁ δὲ Πτολεμαῖος τοὐναντίον εὐεργετικὸς καὶ ἐπιεικὴς καὶ μεταδιδοὺς πᾶσι τοῖς ἡγεμόσι τῆς παρρησίας, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις διειληφὼς πάντας τοὺς ἐπικαιροτάτους Αἰγύπτου τόπους φυλακαῖς ἀξιολόγοις καὶ βέλεσι παντοδαποῖς καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν εὖ κατεσκευασμένος.
But when he attempted to clear out a certain ancient canal, and as the river broke out violently and ruined the works, many of his friends abandoned him and departed to Ptolemy; for he was bloodthirsty and stripped the other commanders of their powers and in general wished to rule everyone by force, whereas Ptolemy on the contrary was beneficent and reasonable and shared freedom of speech with all the commanders, and in addition to this, he had occupied all the most opportune places of Egypt with significant garrisons and missiles of all kinds, and was well prepared with all other things.
§18.33.4διὸ καὶ κατὰ τὰς ἐπιβολὰς κατὰ τὸ πλεῖστον ἐπλεονέκτει, πολλοὺς ἔχων εὐνοοῦντας καὶ προθύμως διακινδυνεύοντας.
Therefore also in his undertakings he had for the most part the advantage, having many who were well-disposed and readily risking their lives.
§18.33.5ὁ δʼ οὖν Περδίκκας διορθούμενος τὰς ἐλαττώσεις συνήγαγε τοὺς ἡγεμόνας καὶ τοὺς μὲν δωρεαῖς, τοὺς δʼ ἐπαγγελίαις μεγάλαις, πάντας δὲ φιλανθρώποις ὁμιλίαις ἐξιδιοποιησάμενος προετρέψατο πρὸς τοὺς ἐπιφερομένους κινδύνους.
Perdiccas, then, correcting his disadvantages, assembled the commanders, and having won them over, some by gifts, others by great promises, and all by friendly conversation, he urged them toward the oncoming dangers.
παραγγείλας δὲ ἑτοίμους εἶναι πρὸς ἀναζυγὴν ὥρμησε μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως ἀφʼ ἑσπέρας, οὐδενὶ δηλώσας τὸν τόπον εἰς ὃν διεγνωκὼς ἦν καταντᾶν.
Having ordered them to be ready for departure, he set out with his force in the evening, having revealed to no one the place to which he had decided to go.
§18.33.6τὴν δὲ νύκτα πᾶσαν ὁδοιπορήσας ἐν τάχει κατεστρατοπέδευσε παρὰ τὸν Νεῖλον πλησίον φρουρίου τινος ὃ προσηγορεύετο Καμήλων τεῖχος.
And having marched the whole night in haste, he encamped by the Nile near a certain fortress which was called Camel's Wall.
διαφαινούσης δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας διεβίβαζε τὴν δύναμιν ἡγουμένων τῶν ἐλεφάντων, ἐπακολουθούντων δὲ τῶν ὑπασπιστῶν καὶ κλιμακοφόρων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων διʼ ὧν ἔμελλε τὴν τειχομαχίαν ποιεῖσθαι.
As day was dawning, he began to transport his force, with the elephants leading, and the hypaspists and ladder-bearers and the others following by whose means he intended to carry out the siege.
ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ ἐπεβάλοντο οἱ κράτιστοι τῶν ἱππέων, οὓς διενοεῖτο ἐπιπέμπειν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Πτολεμαῖον, ἐὰν τύχωσιν ἐπιφαινόμενοι.
Behind all, the strongest of the cavalry fell in, whom he intended to send against Ptolemy's men, if they should happen to appear.