"armies, invade Philip both by sea and land. "Quintius, the third consul whom they have sent "against him, having found him in a post which seemed inaccessible, did nevertheless force him from "it, plundered his camp, pursued him to Thes"saly, and took, almost in his sight, the strongest "fortresses belonging to his allies. I will take it "for granted, that whatever the Athenian ambas"sador has advanced concerning the cruelty, the "avarice, and the excesses of Philip, is not true; "that the crimes which he committed in Attica do "not any way affect us, any more than those he perpetrated in many other places against the gods "celestial, terrestrial, and infernal; that we even "ought to bury in everlasting oblivion, the injuries we have suffered, for him. In a word, if we sup pose that we are not treating with Philip, but "with Antigonus, a mild and just prince, and from "whom we all have received the greatest services; "would he make a demand like that of to-day, so " evidently opposite to our safety and preservation? "In case Nabis and his Lacedæmonians should come and invade us by land, and the Roman "fleet by sea, will it be possible for the king to support us against such formidable enemies, or "shall we be able to defend ourselves? Past trans"actions point out to what we must expect here"after. The medium which is proposed, of our 66 standing neuter, will infallibly render us a prey "to the conqueror, who will not fail to attack us "as cunning politicians, who waited for the event, "before we would declare ourselves. Believe what "I say, when I assure you there is no medium. "We must either have the Romans for our friends "or for our enemies; and they are come to us with "a strong fleet, to offer us their friendship and "their aid. To refuse so advantageous an offer, "and slight so favourable an occasion, which will "never return, would be the highest folly, and show “that we run voluntarily on our own destruction,' This speech was followed by a great noise and murmuring throughout the whole assembly, some applauding it with joy, and others opposing it with violence. The magistrates, called Demiurgi, were no less divided among themselves. Of these, who were ten in number, five declared that each of them would deliberate upon the affair in his assembly, and before his people; and the other five protested against it, upon pretence that the laws forbad both the magistrate to propose, and the assembly to pass, any decree contrary to the alliance concluded with Philip. This day was entirely spent in quarrels, and tumultuous cries. There remained but one day more, on which the laws appointed the assembly to end. The debates grew so hot, with regard to what was to be concluded in it, that fathers could scarce forbear striking their sons. Memnon of Pellene, was one of the five magistrates who refused to make the report. His father, whose name was Rhisiases, intreated and conjured him a long time, to let the Achæans provide for their own safety; and not expose them, by his obstinacy, to inevitable ruin. Finding his prayers could not avail, he swore that he would kill him with his own hands, if he did not come into his opinion, considering him, not as his son, but the enemy of his country. These terrible menaces, and paternal authority, made such an impression on Memnon, that he at last acquiesced. The next day, the majority in the assembly desiring to have the affair debated, and the people discovering plainly enough what it was they wanted, the Dymeans, Megalopolitans, and some of the Argives, withdrew from the assembly before the decree passed: And no one took offence at this, because they had particular obligations to Philip, who also had lately done them very considerable services. Gratitude is a virtue common to all ages and nations, and ingratitude is abhorred every where. All the other states, when the votes were to be taken, confirmed immediately, by a decree, the alliance with Attalus and the Rhodians; and suspended the entire conclusion of that with the Romans, till ambassadors should be sent to Rome, to obtain the ratification from the people, without which nothing could be concluded. In the mean time, three ambassadors were sent to Quintius; and the whole army of the Achæans marched to Corinth, which Lucius, the consul's brother, had already besieged, having before taken Cenchreæ. They at first carried on the attack but very faintly, from the hopes that a quarrel would soon arise between the garrison and the inhabitants. However, finding the city was quiet, the machines of war were made to approach on all sides, and various assaults were made, which the besieged sustained with great vigour, and always repulsed the Romans. There was in Corinth a great number of Italian deserters, who, in case the city was taken, expected no quarter from the Romans, and therefore fought in despair. Philocles, one of Philip's captains, having thrown a fresh reinforcement into the city, and the Romans despairing to force it, at last Lucius acquiesced with the advice of Attalus, and accordingly the siege was raised. The Achæans being sent away, Attalus and the Romans returned on board the fleets. The former sailed to the Piræus, and the latter to Corcyra. Whilst the fleets besieged Corinth, T. Quintius the consul, was employed in the siege of Elatea, where he was more successful: For, after the besieged had made a stout and vigorous resistance, he took the city, and afterwards the citadel. At the same time, such of the inhabitants of Argos as had declared for Philip, found means to deliver up their city to Philocles, one of his generals. Thus, notwithstanding the alliance which the Achaans had just before concluded with the Romans, Philip still possessed two of the strongest cities, Corinth and Argos. SECT. III. Flamininus is continued in the command as proconsul. He has a fruitless inter view with Philip about concluding a peace. The Etolians, and Nabis, tyrant of Sparta, declare for the Romans. Sickness and death of Attalus. Flamininus defeats Philip in a battle near Scotussa and Cynoscephale in Thessaly. A peace concluded with Philip, which puts an end to the Macedonian war. The extraordinary joy of the Greeks at the Isthmian games, when advice is brought that they are restored to their ancient liberty by the Romans. A. M. NEW Consuls were appointed at Rome, but as 3807 the slow progress which had been made in the affairs Ant. J. C. of Macedonia were justly ascribed to the frequent changing of those who were charged with them, Flamininus was continued in his command, and recruits were sent him. 197. The season being already advanced, Quintius had taken up his winter quarters in Phocis and Locris, when Philip sent a herald to him, to desire an interview. Quintius complied very readily, because he did not know what had been resolved upon at Rome with regard to himself; and that a conference would give him the liberty, either to continue the war, in case he should be continued in the command, or dispose matters so as to bring about a peace, if a successor were appointed him. The time and place being agreed upon, both parties met. Philip was attended by several Macedonian noblemen, and Cycliadus, one of the chiefs of the Achæans, whom that people had banished a little before. The Roman general was accompanied by Amynander, Liv. 1. xxxii. n. 27, & 28. P Ibid. n. 32-37. king of Athamania, and by all the deputies of the allies. After some disputes with regard to the ceremonial, Quintius made his proposals, and every one of the allies their demands. Philip answered them, and as he began to inveigh against the Etolians, Phineas, their magistrate, interrupted him in these words: "We are not met here merely about words; "our business is, either to conquer sword in hand, "or to submit to the most powerful."-" A "blind man may see that," replied Philip, ridiculing Phineas, whose sight was bad. Philip* was very fond of jest, and could not refrain from them, even in treating on the most serious affairs: a behaviour very unbecoming in a prince. This first interview being spent in contests, they met again the next day. Philip came very late to the place of meeting, which it was believed he did purposely, in order that the Etolians and Achæans might not have time sufficient for answering him. He had a private conference with Quintius, who having acquainted the confederates with his proposals, not one approved them; and they were upon the point of breaking off the conference, when Philip desired that the decision might be suspended till the next day; promising that he himself would comply in case it were not in his power to bring them into his opinion. At their next meeting, he earnestly intreated Quintius and the allies not to oppose a peace; promising, either to agree to it on the conditions which he himself should prescribe, or accept of such as the senate might require. They could not refuse so reasonable a demand; and accordingly a truce was agreed, but on condition, that his troops should immediately leave Phocis and Locris. After this, the several parties sent ambassadors to Rome. Being arrived there, those of the allies were heard first. They inveighed heavily against Philip upon Erat dicacior naturâ quam regem decet, & ne inter seria quidem risu satis temperans. Liv. |