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112 DEMETRIUS. Upon this the people around gave Antigonus and Deme- trius, for the first time, the title of kings. His friends at once set a diadem on the head of Antigonus ; and he sent one presently to his son, with a letter addressed to him as King Demetrius. And when this news was told in Egypt, that they might not seem to be dejected with the late de- feat, Ptolemy's followers also took occasion to bestow the slyle of king upon him; and the rest of the successors of Alexander were quick to follow the example. Lysi- maclius began to wear the diadem ; and Seleucus, who had before received the name in all addresses from the barbarians, now also took it upon him in all business Avith the Greeks. Cassander still retained his nsual superscrip- tion in his letters, but others, both in writing and speak- ing, gave him the royal title. Nor was this the mere accession of a name, or introduction of a ncAV fashion. The men's own sentiments about themselves were dis- turbed, and their feelings elevated ; a spirit of pomp and arrogance passed into their habits of life and conver- sation, as a tragic actor on the stage modifies, with a change of dress, his step, his voice, his motions in sitting down, his manner in addressing another. The punish- ments they inflicted were more violent after they had thus laid aside that modest style under which they for- merly dissembled their power, and the influence of which had often made them gentler and less exacting to their subjects. A single flattering voice effected a revolution in the world. Antigonus, extremely elevated with the success of his arms in Cyprus under the conduct of Demetrius, resolved to push on his good fortune, and to lead his forces in per- son against Ptolemy by land, whilst Demetrius should coast with a great fleet along the shore, to assist him by sea^ The issue of the contest was intimated in a dream which Medius, a friend to Antigonus, had at this time in