These tidings were received with such a tumult of joyful cries, it is said, that a flock of birds that were flying overhead fell to the earth, stunned by the shock of cheers which rent the air. This joy, however, did not last very long, for the new-won freedom of Greece existed in name only. As soon as the Romans had completed the conquest of Macedon under its last ruler, Perseus, they prepared to annex Greece also. Their first move was to accuse the Achaeans of sending aid to Macedon. Under this pretext, one thousand leading citizens were seized, and sent to Rome to be tried. Here they were kept in exile for many a year, longing to go home, and fuming against their detention. When they were finally allowed to return, they were so imbittered, that, as the Romans had foreseen, they soon stirred up a revolt among the Achaeans. AE-mil'i-us Pau'lus, the conqueror of Macedon, then marched into Greece, and swept over the whole country. He took the city of Corinth, and burned it to the ground, after carrying off many of its most precious works of art to adorn his triumph. Such was the ignorance of the Romans at that time, however, about all matters of art, that the sailors who were to carry these treasures to Rome were warned by the consul to be careful, as they would have to replace any article they had damaged or lost. The Romans then placed garrisons in the principal Greek towns, and the country became a mere province of Rome, under the name of Achaia. Thus ends the history of ancient Greece, which, though so small, was yet the most famous country the world has ever known,--the country from which later nations learned their best lessons in art, philosophy, and literature. INDEX. PAGE Academy, gardens of 142 Achaean League 268-270 Achaeans exiled to Rome 281 Achilles, avenges Patroclus 50 betrays himself 46 death of 51 in the Styx 45 prophecy regarding 44 Acropolis, captured 88, 96 Parthenon on 149 statue of Athene on 115 temple to Theseus, near 28, 143 Adrastus 37-40 AEgean Sea, derivation of name 27 Persian vessels forbidden to enter 147 AEgeus 27 AEgina, Draco at Island of 88 AEneas, escape of 53 AEtolian League 268, 273 Agamemnon, insults priest of Apollo 48 King of Mycenae 44 Age of Pericles 146