1When Olympias, who had been Alexander's mother, had sent letters and messengers to him in Asia to consult him whether she should go and reclaim Macedonia (for at that time she was living in Epirus) and take possession of her affairs, he first advised her not to stir and to wait until Alexander's son should gain the throne; 2but if she were carried away by some desire into Macedonia, she should forget all injuries and exercise no harsh authority against anyone. 3She did none of these things: for she both set out for Macedonia and conducted herself there most cruelly. 3But she asked Eumenes, far away as he was, not to allow the bitterest enemies of Philip's house and family to destroy his line as well, and to bring help to Alexander's children.
4If he granted this favour, he should prepare armies as soon as possible to bring to her aid. 4To make it easier for him to do this, she had sent letters to all the governors who remained loyal, telling them to obey him and follow his counsel. 5Deeply moved by this, Eumenes thought it better, if fortune so ordained, to perish repaying those who had deserved well of him than to live ungrateful.