A king of the Macedonians[1]; who, while he was enfeebled in bodily power, was still holding out[2] by the brightness of his soul; a man who, while he was in most respects second to none of the kings of his time, was in all the most important and finest matters greater and brighter [than they]. First, that is to say, having inherited from his father[3] the kingdom when it had shrunk entirely to a few meagre little towns, he made his own empire a rival to the greatest dynasties of his time, for the most part not relying on fortune as a helper, nor by reversal of circumstance, but through his sharpness of mind and love of hard work, and moreover his own practical ability. Second, he became very concerned with reputation and not only became a benefactor to more Hellenic cities than any of the [other] kings of his time, but also gave substantial support to the most men on an individual basis.[4] Third, having three brothers who in age and practical ability [were] . . . [5] he kept all of them together, obeying him, serving as his bodyguards, and preserving the dignity of the kingship. One could find very few cases of this happening.
This Eumenes is put to death by Antigonos,[6] [and was] a man with a greater reputation for wisdom than the rest of the Macedonians, and beyond criticism in matters of strategy, so that he has handed on his name even to later times.