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Hereditary Genius
151
lationships. However, his reputed relationships are of a very high order. He
inherited much of the natural disposition of both of his parents; the cool
forethought and practical wisdom of his father, and the ardent enthusiasm and
ungovernable passions of his mother. He had four wives, but only one son, a
posthumous child, who was murdered aet. 12.
F. Philip II. of Macedonia, an illustrious general and statesman, who created and
organized an army that was held together by a system of discipline previously
unknown, and kept the whole of Greece in check. Aet. 24 he had shown his
cool forethought and practical skill in delivering himself from embarrassing
political difficulties. He had a robust frame, a noble and commanding presence,
a ready eloquence, and dexterity in the management of men and things. Cicero
praises him for having been “always great.” He keenly enjoyed the animal
pleasures of life. He was murdered aet. 47.
f. Olympias, ardent in her enthusiasms, ungovernable in her passions, ever
scheming and intriguing. She suffered death like a heroine.
B. (Half-brother.) Ptolemy Soter I. He became the first king of Egypt after
Alexander's death, and was the son of Philip II. by Arsinoe. Alexander rated
him very highly. He was very brave, and had all the qualities of an able and
judicious general. He was also given to literature, and he patronised learned
men. He had twelve descendants, who became kings of Egypt, who were all
called Ptolemy, and who nearly all resembled one another in features, in
statesmanlike ability, in love of letters, and in their voluptuous dispositions.
This race of Ptolemys is at first sight exceedingly interesting, on account of the
extraordinary number of their close intermarriages. They were matched in and
in like prize cattle; but these near marriages were unprolific—the inheritance
mostly passed through other wives. Indicating the Ptolemys by numbers,
according to the order of their succession, II. married his niece, and afterwards
his sister, IV. his sister; VI. and VII. were brothers, and they both
consecutively married the same sister—VII. also subsequently married his
niece;
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