nians are a manifest proof. As to myself, I never intended to make an irreconcilable war against Philip; but was inclined to grant him a peace, whenever he should yield to the conditions that should be prescribed him. You yourselves, Etolians, in the assemblies which were held for that purpose, never once mentioned depriving Philip of his kingdom. Should victory inspire us with such a design? How shameful are such sentiments! When an enemy attacks us in the field, it is our business to repel him with bravery and haughtiness; but when he is fallen, it is the duty of the victor to show moderation, gentleness, and humanity. With regard to the Greeks, it is their interest, I confess, that the kingdom of Macedonia should be less powerful than formerly; but it no less concerns their welfare, that it should not be entirely destroyed. That kingdom serves them as a barrier against the Thracians and Gauls,* who, were they not checked by it, would certainly fall heavy upon Greece, as they have frequently done before."

Flamininus concluded with declaring, that his opinion and that of the council was, that if Philip would promise to observe faithfully all the conditions which the allies had formerly prescribed, that then a peace should be granted him, after having consulted the senate about it; and that the Etolians might form whatever resolutions they pleased on this occasion. Phineas, prætor of the Etolians, having represented, in very strong terms, that Philip, if he he should escape the present danger, would soon form new projects, and light up a fresh war; "I shall take care of that," replied the proconsul," and shall take effectual methods to put it out of his power to undertake any thing against us."

The next day, Philip arrived at the place appointed for the conference and three days after, the council being assembled again, he came into it, and spoke with so much prudence and wisdom, as softened the whole assembly. He declared that he would accept, and execute, whatever conditions the Romans and the allies should prescribe; and that with regard to every thing else, he would rely entirely on the discretion of the senate. Upon these words the whole council were silent. Only Phineas the Etolian started some difficulties, which were altogether improper, and for that reason entirely disre garded.

But what prompted Flamininus to urge the conclusion of the peace, was his having advice that Antiochus, at the head of an army, was marching out of Syria, in order to make an irruption into Europe. He apprehended, that Philip might think of putting his cities in a condition of defence, and thereby might gain time. Besides, he was sensible, that should another consul come in his stead, all the honour of the war would be ascribed to him. These reasons prevailed with him to grant the king a truce for four months; whereupon he received four hundred talents from him, took Demetrius his son, and some of his friends, as hostages; and gave him permission to send to Rome, to receive such farther conditions from the senate as they should prescribe. Matters being thus adjusted, the parties separated, after having mutually promised, that in case a peace should not be concluded, Flamininus should return to Philip the talents and the hostages. This being done, the several parties concerned sent deputations to Rome; some to solicit peace, and others to throw obstacles in its way.

While these measures were concerting, to bring about a general peace, some expeditions, of little importance, were undertaken in several places. Androsthenes, who commanded under the king, at Corinth, had a considerable body of troops, consisting of more than six thousand men; he was defeated in a battle by Nicostratus, prætor of the Achæans, who came upon him unawares, and attacked him at a time when his troops were dispersed up and down the plains, and plundering the country. The Acarnanians

* A great number of Gauls had settled in the countries adjoining Thrace.

were divided in their sentiments; some being for Philip, and others for the Romans. The latter had laid siege to Leucus. News being brought of the victory gained at Cynoscephale, the whole country submitted to the conquerors. At the same time the Rhodians took Perea, a small country in Caria, which, as they pretended, belonged to them, and had been unjustly taken from them by the Macedonians. Philip, on the other side, repulsed the Dardanians, who had made an inroad into his kingdom, to plunder it during the ill state of his affairs. After this expedition, the king retired to Thessalonica.* At Rome, the time for the election of consuls having arrived, L. Furius Purpureo and M. Claudis Marcellus were chosen. At the same time letters arrived from Quintus, containing the particulars of his victory over Philip. They were first read before the senate, and afterwards to the people; and public prayers, during five days, were ordered, to thank the gods for the protection they had granted the Romans in the war against Philip.t

Some days after, ambassadors arrived to treat of the intended peace with the king of Macedonia; the affair was debated in the senate. Each of the ambassadors made long speeches, according to his respective views and interests; but at last the majority were for peace. The same affair being brought before the people, Marcellus, who passionately desired to command the armies in Greece, used his utmost endeavours to break the treaty, but all to no purpose; for the people approved the proposal of Flamininus, and ratified the conditions. The senate afterwards, appointed ten of the most illustrious citizens to go into Greece, to settle, in conjunction with Flamininus, the affairs of that country, and secure its liberties. In the same Assembly, the Achæans desired to be received as allies of the people of Rome; but that affair meeting with some difficulties, it was referred to the ten commissioners. A sedition had broken out in Boeotia, between the partisans of Philip and those of the Romans, which rose to a great height. Nevertheless, it was not attended with any ill consequences, the proconsul having soon appeased it. The ten commissioners, who had set out from Rome to settle the affairs of Greece, soon arrived in that country. The chief conditions of the treaty of peace, which they settled in concert with Flamininus, were as follow: that all the other cities of Greece, both in Asia and Europe, should be free, and be governed by their own laws: that Philip, before the celebration of the Isthmian games, should evacuate those in which he then had garrisons: that he should restore to the Romans all the prisoners and deserters, and deliver up to them all the ships that had decks, five feluccas excepted, and the galleys having sixteen benches of rowers. That he should pay a thousand talents; one half down, and the other half in ten years, fifty every year, by way of tribute. Among the hostages required of him, was Demetrius his son, who accordingly was sent to Rome.§

In this manner Flamininus ended the Macedonian war, to the great satisfaction of the Greeks, and very happily for Rome. For, not to mention Hannibal, who, though vanquished, might still have an opportunity of finding the Romans considerable employment, Antiochus, seeing his power considerably increased by his glorious exploits, which had acquired him the surname of Great, had actually resolved to carry his arms into Europe. If, therefore, Flamininus, by his great prudence, had not forseen what would come to pass, and had not speedily concluded this peace; had the war against Antiochus been joined, in the midst of Greece, with the war carrying on against Philip; and had the two greatest and most powerful kings then in the world, uniting their views and interests, invaded Rome at the same time; it is certain, the

* Liv. 1. xxxiii. n. 14-19.

†A. M. 3808. Ant. J. C. 196. Polyb. Excerpt. Legat. p. 793, 794. Liv. 1. xxxiii. n. 24, et 27-29. The word other, is put here in opposition to such of the Grecian cities as were subject to Philip, part of which only were restored to their liberties, because the Romans thought it necessary to garrison Chalcis, Demetrias, and Corinth.

Polyb. Excerpt. Legat. p. 795–800. Liv. xxxiii. n. 30-35. Plut in Flam. p. 374–376. VOL. IV. 3

34

Romans would have been engaged in as many battles, and as great dangers, as those they had been obliged to sustain in the war against Hannibal.

As soon as this treaty of peace was known, all Greece, Etolia excepted, received the news of it with universal joy. The inhabitants of the latter country seemed dissatisfied, and inveighed privately against it among the confederates; affirming, that it was nothing more than empty words; that the Greeks were amused with the name of liberty, with which specious term the Romans covered their interested views that they indeed suffered the cities in Asia to enjoy their freedom; but that they seemed to reserve to themselves those of Europe, as Orea, Eretria, Chalcis, Demetrias, and Corinth. That therefore Greece, strictly speaking, was not freed from its chains; and, at most, had only changed its sovereign.

These complaints made the proconsul so much the more uneasy, as they were not altogether without foundation. The commissioners, pursuant to the instructions they had received from Rome, advised Flamininus to restore all the Greeks to their liberty; but to keep possession of the cities of Corinth, Chalcis, and Demetrias, which were the inlets of Greece; and to put strong garrisons in them, to prevent their being seized by Antiochus. He prevailed in the council to have Corinth set at liberty; but it was resolved there, that a strong garrison should be put into the citadel, as well as in the two cities of Chalcis and Demetrias; and this for a time only, till they should be entirely rid of their fears with regard to Antiochus.

It was now the time in which the Isthmian games were to be solemnized; and the expectation of what was there to be transacted, had drawn thither an incredible multitude of people, and persons of the highest rank. The conditions of the treaty of peace, which were not yet entirely made public, was the topic of all conversations, and various constructions were put upon them; but very few could be persuaded, that the Romans would evacuate all the cities they had taken. All Greece was in this uncertainty, when the multitude being assembled in the stadium to see the games, a herald came forward, and published, with a loud voice, "The senate and people of Rome, and Titus Quintius the general, having overcome Philip and the Macedonians, ease and deliver from all garrisons, taxes and imposts, the Corinthians, the Locrians, the Phocians, the Eubeans, the Phthiot Achæans, the Magnesians, the Thessalians, and the Perrhoebians; declare them free, and ordain that they shall be governed by their respective laws and usages."

At these words, which many heard but imperfectly, because of the noise that interrupted them, all the spectators were filled with excess of joy. They gazed upon, and questioned one another with astonishment, and could not believe either their eyes or ears; so like a dream was what they then saw and heard. It was thought necessary for the herald to repeat the proclamation, which was now listened to with the most profound silence, so that not a single word of the decree was lost. But now, fully assured of their happiness, they abandoned themselves again to the highest transports of joy, and broke into such loud and repeated acclamations, that the sea resounded them to a great distance; and some ravens which happened to fly that instant over the assembly, fell down in the stadium; so true it is, that of all the blessings of this life, none are so dear to mankind as liberty! The games and sports were hurried over with neglect and disregard; for so great was the general joy upon this occasion, that it extinguished every other thought.*

The games being ended, all the people ran in crowds to the Roman general; and every one being eager to see his deliverer, to salute him, to kiss his

Audita voce præconis, majus gaudium fuit, quam quod universum homines caperent. Vix satis credere se quisque audisse; alii alios intueri mirabundi velut somnii vanam speciem, quod ad quemque pertineret, suarum aurium fidei minimum credentes, proximos inter rogabant. Revocatus præco, iterum pronunciare eadem. Tum ab certo jam gaudio tantus cum clamore plausus est ortus, totiesque repetitus, ut facile appareret, nihil omnium bonorum multitudini gratius, quam libertatem, esse. Ludicrum deinde ita raptim peractum est, ut nullius nec animi nec oculi spectaculo intenti essent. Adeo unum gaudium præoccupaverat omnium aliarum sensum voluptatum.-Liv. 1. xxxiii. n. 32.

hand, and to throw crowns and festoons of flowers over him he would have run the hazard of being pressed to death by the crowd, had not the vigour of his years, for he was not above thirty-three years old, and the joy which so glorious a day gave him, sustained and enabled him to undergo the fatigue.

I would indeed ask, whether any man ever could see a more happy or more glorious day than this was for Flamininus and the Roman people? What are all the triumphs of the world in comparison with what we have seen on this occasion? Should we estimate the value of all the trophies, all the victories, all the conquests of Alexander and the greatest captains, how little would they appear, when opposed to this single action of goodness, humanity, and justice! It is a great misfortune to princes, that they are not so sensible as they should be to so refined a joy, to so affecting and exquisite a glory, as that which arises from doing good to many.

The remembrance of so delightful a day,* and of the invaluable blessing then bestowed, was for ever renewing, and for a long time; the only subject of conversation at all times and in all places. Every one cried in the highest transports of admiration, and a kind of enthusiasm, that there was a people in the world, who, at their own expense and the hazard of their lives, engage in a war for the liberty of other nations; and that not for their neighbours, or people situated on the same continent, but who crossed seas, and sailed to distant climes, to destroy and extirpate unjust power from the earth, and to establish universally, law, equity, and justice. That by a single word, and the voice of a herald, liberty had been restored to all the cities of Greece and Asia. That a great soul only could have formed such a design; but that to execute it was the effect at once of the highest good fortune, and the most consummate virtue."

They called to mind all the great battles which Greece had fought for the sake of liberty. "After sustaining so many wars," said they, 66 never was its valour crowned with so blessed a reward, as when strangers came and took up arms in its defence. It was then that, almost without shedding a drop of blood, or losing one man, it acquired the greatest and noblest of all prizes for which mankind can contend. Valour and prudence are rare at all times; but of all virtues, justice is most rare. Agesilaus, Lysander, Nicias, and Alcibiades, had great abilities for carrying on war, and gained battles both by sea and land; but, it was for themselves and their country, not for strangers and foreigners, they fought. That height of glory was reserved for the Romans."t

Such were the reflections the Greeks made on the present state of affairs; and the effects soon answered the glorious proclamation made at the Isthmian games; for the commissioners separated, to go and put their decree in execution in all the cities..

Flamininus having returned from Argos, was appointed president of the Nemean games. He competently discharged all the duties of that employment, and used his utmost endeavours to add to the pomp and magnificence of the festival; and he also published by a herald, at these games, as he had done at all the rest, the liberty of Greece.

As he visited the several cities, he established good ordinances in them, reformed laws, restored amity and concord between the citizens, by appeasing quarrels and seditions, and recalling the exiles; infinitely more pleased with being able by the means of persuasion to reconcile the Greeks, and to re-establish unity among them, than he had been in conquering the Macedon

* Nec præsens omnium modo effusa lætitia est; sed per multos dies gratis et cogitationibus et sermoni” bus revocata. Esse aliquam in terris gentem, quæ sua impensa, suo labore ac periculo, bella gerat pro li bertate aliorum': nec hoc finitimis, aut propinquæ vicinitatis hominibus, aut terris continenti junctis præstet; maria trajiciat, ne quod toto orbe terrarum injustum imperium sit, et ubique jus, fas, lex potentissima sint. Una voce præconis liberatas omnes Græciæ atque Asiæ urbes. Hoc spe concipere, audacis anime fuisse; ad effectum adducere, virtutis et fortunæ ingentis.-Liv. n. 33. Plut in Flamin.

nians; so that liberty seemed the least of the blessings they had received from him. And, indeed, of what service would liberty have been to the Greeks, had not justice and concord been restored among them? What an example is here for governors of provinces! How happy are the people under magistrates of this character!

It is related, that Xenocrates the philosopher, having been delivered by Lycurgus the orator, out of the hands of the tax-gatherers, who were dragging him to prison, in order to make him pay a sum which foreigners were obliged by law to pay into the public treasury, and meeting soon after the sons of his deliverer, said to them, "I repay with usury the kindness your father did me; for I am the cause that all mankind praise him." But the gratitude which the Greeks showed Flamininus and the Romans, did not terminate merely in praising, but was also of infinite service to the augmentation of their power, by inducing all nations to confide in them, and rely on the faith of their engagements. For they not only freely received such generals as the Romans sent them, but requested earnestly that they might be sent; they called them in, and joyfully submitted themselves to their orders. Not only nations and cities, but princes and kings, who had complaints to offer against the injustice of neighbouring powers, had recourse to them, and put themselves in a manner under their safeguard; so that, in a short time, from an effect of the divine protection, to use Plutarch's expression,* the whole earth submitted to their empire.

Cornelius, one of the commissioners, came to the assembly of the Greeks, which was held at Thermæ, a city of Etolia. He there made a long speech, to exhort the Ætolians to continue firmly attached to the party for whom they had declared, and never to infringe the alliance they had made with the Romans. Some of the principal Etolians complained, but with modesty, that the Romans, from the victory they had obtained, did not show so much favour as before to their nation. Others reproached him, but in harsh and injurious terms, that had it not been for the Etolians, the Romans would neither have conquered Philip, nor have been able to set foot in Greece. Cornelius, to prevent all disputes and contests, which are always of pernicious consequence, was so prudent as only to refer them to the senate, assuring them, that all possible justice would be done them. They accordingly came to that resolution; and thus ended the war against Philip.

SECTION IV. THE ROMANS SEND AN EMBASSY TO ANTIOCHUS.

AGAINST PTOLEMY. SCOPAS PUT TO DEATH.

CONSPIRACY

THE war of Macedonia had ended very fortunately for the Romans, who otherwise would have been invaded by two powerful enemies at the same time, Philip and Antiochus; for it was evident that the Romans would soon be obliged to proclaim war against the king of Syria, who enlarged his conquests daily, and undoubtedly was preparing to cross over into Europe.

After having established good order in Colosyria and Palestine, by the alliance he had concluded with the king of Egypt, and possessed himself of several cities of Asia Minor, and among these, of Ephesus, he took the most proper measures for the success of his designs, and to give him the possession of all those kingdoms which he pretended had formerly belonged to his ancestors.‡

Smyrna, Lampsacus, and the other Grecian cities of Asia, who enjoyed their liberty at that time, seeing plainly that he intended to bring them under subjection, resolved to defend themselves. But being unable to resist so power

* φεις συνεφαπτομένη.

↑ According to Livy, it was at Thermopyle. It is doubted whether he has justly translated Polybius in this place; ii tyv Tüx degμixúv œuvodov This is said of an assembly of Ætolians in the city of Therme. which is in Etolia.

A. M. 3808. Ant. J. C. 196. Liv. 1. xxxiii. n. 98—41. Polyb. l. xvii. p. 769, 770. Appian. de Belli. Syr. p. 86-88.