§19.34.1ὃ καὶ τότε συνέβη· τοῦ γὰρ νόμου μίαν κελεύοντος συγκατακάεσθαι παρῆσαν ἀμφότεραι πρὸς τὴν τοῦ Κητέως ταφήν, ὑπὲρ τοῦ συναποθανεῖν ὡς ὑπὲρ ἀριστίου συμφιλοτιμούμεναι.
And this is indeed what happened at that time; for although the law ordered only one to be burned together with the husband, both were present at the funeral of Ceteus, vying with each other to die with him as if for the prize of valor.
§19.34.2τῶν δὲ στρατηγῶν διακρινόντων ἡ νεωτέρα μὲν ἀπεφαίνετο τὴν ἑτέραν ἔγκυον εἶναι καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μὴ δύνασθαι χρήσασθαι τῷ νόμῳ, ἡ δὲ πρεσβυτέρα δικαιότερον ἀπεφαίνετο εἶναι τὴν προέχουσαν τοῖς χρόνοις προέχειν καὶ τῇ τιμῇ· καὶ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων θεωρεῖσθαι τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους πολὺ προέχοντας τῶν νεωτέρων εἰς ἐντροπὴν καὶ τιμήν.
While the generals were deciding the matter, the younger wife declared that the other was pregnant and therefore could not take advantage of the law, but the older wife declared that it was more just for her who excelled in years to excel also in honor; for in all other matters, indeed, the older were considered to excel the younger by far in respect and honor.
§19.34.3οἱ δʼ οὖν στρατηγοὶ διὰ τῶν μαιεύεσθαι δυναμένων γνόντες τὴν πρεσβυτέραν ἔγκυον οὖσαν προέκριναν τὴν νεωτέραν.
Therefore, the generals, having learned through those capable of mid-wifery that the older was pregnant, chose the younger.
οὗ συμβάντος ἡ μὲν ἀποτυχοῦσα τῆς κρίσεως ἀπῄει μετὰ κλαυθμοῦ, καταρρήξασα τὸ περὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν διάδημα καὶ τὰς τρίχας σπαράσσουσα, καθαπερεί τινος συμφορᾶς μεγάλης προσηγγελμένης· ἡ δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ νίκῃ περιχαρὴς ἀπῄει πρὸς τὴν πυράν, στεφανουμένη μὲν μίτραις ὑπὸ τῶν οἰκείων γυναικῶν, κεκοσμημένη δὲ διαπρεπῶς ὥσπερ εἴς τινα γάμον προεπέμπετο ὑπὸ τῶν συγγενῶν, ᾀδόντων ὕμνον εἰς τὴν ἀρετὴν αὐτῆς.
When this happened, she who had lost the decision departed with weeping, tearing the diadem about her head and rending her hair, just as if some great misfortune had been announced; but she who was overjoyed at her victory went to the pyre, crowned with headbands by her female kinsfolk, and having been adorned splendidly as if for a wedding, was escorted by her relatives, who sang a hymn to her virtue.
§19.34.4ὡς δὲ ἐγγὺς ἐγενήθη τῆς πυρᾶς, περιαιρουμένη τὸν κόσμον ἑαυτῆς διεδίδου τοῖς οἰκείοις καὶ φίλοις, ὡς ἂν εἴποι τις, καταλείπουσα τοῖς ἀγαπῶσι μνημεῖον.
When she came near the pyre, taking off her ornaments, she distributed them to her relatives and friends, leaving, so to speak, a memorial to those who loved her.
ὁ δὲ κόσμος ἦν περὶ μὲν τὰς χεῖρας δακτυλίων πλῆθος ἐνδεδεμένων λίθοις πολυτελέσι καὶ διηλλαγμένοις τοῖς χρώμασι, περὶ δὲ τὴν κεφαλὴν χρυσῶν ἀστερίσκων οὐκ ὀλίγος ἀριθμὸς παντοδαποῖς λίθοις διειλημμένων, περὶ δὲ τὸν τράχηλον ὅρμων πλῆθος, τῶν μὲν ἐλασσόνων, τῶν δʼ ἐκ τοῦ κατʼ ὀλίγον ἀεὶ καθʼ ὑπέρθεσιν μειζόνων.
These ornaments consisted of a multitude of rings on her hands, set with precious stones of diverse colors, and about her head no small number of golden stars interspersed with all kinds of stones, and about her neck a multitude of necklaces, some smaller, and others, by a gradual addition, always larger.
§19.34.5τὸ δὲ τελευταῖον ἀσπασαμένη τοὺς οἰκείους ὑπὸ τἀδελφοῦ μὲν ἐπὶ τὴν πυρὰν ἀνεβιβάσθη, ὑπὸ δὲ τοῦ συνδραμόντος ἐπὶ τὴν θέαν πλήθους θαυμασθεῖσα κατέστρεψεν ἡρωικῶς τὸν βίον·
Finally, having embraced her relatives, she was assisted up onto the pyre by her brother, and having been wondered at by the multitude that had run together for the spectacle, she ended her life heroically.
§19.34.6ἡ μὲν γὰρ δύναμις ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις πᾶσα πρὶν ἅπτεσθαι τὴν πυρὰν τρὶς περιῆλθεν, αὐτὴ δὲ τἀνδρὶ παρακλιθεῖσα καὶ κατὰ τὴν τοῦ πυρὸς ὁρμὴν οὐδεμίαν φωνὴν ἀγεννῆ προεμένη προεκαλέσατο τῶν ὁρώντων τοὺς μὲν εἰς ἔλεον, τοὺς δὲ εἰς ὑπερβολὴν ἐπαίνων.
For the entire force in arms marched three times around the pyre before it was kindled, and she, having lain down beside her husband, and during the fury of the fire having uttered no ignoble cry, moved some of the spectators to pity, others to exceeding praise.
οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ ἔνιοι τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἐπετίμων τοῖς νομίμοις ὡς ἀγρίοις οὖσι καὶ χαλεποῖς.
Nevertheless, some of the Greeks condemned the custom as being savage and cruel.
§19.34.7ὁ δʼ Εὐμενὴς ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν τετελευτηκότων ταφῆς γενόμενος ἀνέζευξεν ἐκ τῶν Παραιτάκων εἰς τὴν Γαβηνήν, οὖσαν ἀκέραιον καὶ δυναμένην πάντα δαψιλῆ ταῖς δυνάμεσι παρέχεσθαι.
Eumenes, having finished the burial of the dead, marched from Paraitakene into Gabiene, which was unravaged and able to supply all things abundantly to the forces.
§19.34.8ἀπέχειν δὲ συνέβαινε τὴν χώραν ταύτην τῶν περὶ Ἀντίγονον διὰ μὲν τῆς οἰκουμένης πορευομένῳ σταθμοὺς εἴκοσι πέντε, διὰ δὲ τῆς ἐρήμου καὶ ἀνύδρου σταθμοὺς ἐννέα.
And it happened that this country was distant from Antigonus and his men twenty-five days' journey for one traveling through the inhabited country, but nine days' journey through the desert and waterless region.
οἱ μὲν οὖν περὶ Εὐμενῆ καὶ τὸν Ἀντίγονον τοσοῦτον ἀλλήλων διεστῶτες ἐν τούτοις τοῖς τόποις παρεχείμαζον ἅμα καὶ τὰς δυνάμεις ἀνελάμβανον.
Eumenes and Antigonus, therefore, being separated from one another by so great a distance, wintered in these regions and at the same time recruited their forces.