The History of Rome, Books 37 to the End: with the Epitomes and Fragments of the Lost BooksLivy
History
The History of Rome, Books 37 to the End: with the Epitomes and Fragments of the Lost Books
Livy
Rome -- History
city jurisdiction; Cneius Sicinius, the foreign; Caius Memmius, Sicily;
and Spurius Cluvius, Sardinia. The consuls, enraged against the senate
on account of this conduct, having proclaimed an early day for the Latin
festival, declared openly that they would go away to their province, and
would not transact any kind of business, except what belonged to their
own government.
11. Valerius Antias writes, that, in this consulate, Attalus, brother to
king Eumenes, came to Rome as ambassador, to lay heavy charges against
Perseus, and give an account of his preparations for war. But the
greater number of historians, and those deemed most worthy of credit,
assert, that Eumenes came in person. Eumenes then, on his arrival, being
received with every degree of respect which the Roman people judged
suitable, not merely to his deserts, but also to their own former
favours, bestowed on him in great abundance, was introduced to the
senate. He said, that “The cause of his coming to Rome, besides his wish
to visit those gods and men who had placed him in a situation beyond
which he could not presume to form a wish, was, that he might in person
forewarn the senate to counteract the designs of Perseus.” Then,
beginning with the projects of Philip, he mentioned his murder of
Demetrius, because that prince was averse to a war with Rome; that the
Bastarnian nation was summoned from their homes, that, relying on their
aid, he might pass over into Italy. While his thoughts were busied in
plans of this sort, he was surprised by the approach of death, and left
his kingdom to the person whom he knew to be, of all men, the bitterest
foe to the Romans. “Perseus therefore,” said he, “having received this
scheme of a war, as a legacy bequeathed by his father, and descending to
him along with the crown, advances and improves it, as his primary
object, by every means that he can devise. He is powerful, in respect of
the number of his young men, since a long peace has produced a plentiful
progeny; he is powerful in respect to the resources of his kingdom, and
powerful, likewise, in respect to his age. And as, at his time of life,
he possesses vigour of body, so his mind has been thoroughly trained,
both in the theory and practice of war; for even from his childhood he
became inured to it, in his father’s tent, not only in the wars against
the neighbouring states, but also against the Romans, being employed by
him in many and various expeditions. Already, since he has received the
government, he has, by a wonderful train of prosperous events,
accomplished many things which Philip, after using his best efforts,
could never effect, either by force or artifice.
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