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that they which leave him upon this occasion, will tell perilous tales, and say that the king hath lost the privilege of this holy sanctuary, by murdering Evander therein. Or, if the Romans will affirm so much, who shall dare to gainsay them? Since therefore there is nothing but a point of formality, and even that also liable to dispute, which preserves him from captivity, he purposeth to make an escape, and fly with his treasures unto Cotys, his good friend, into Thrace. Oroandes, a Cretan, lay at Samothrace with one ship; who easily was persuaded to waft the king thence. With all secrecy the king's money, as much as could be conveyed, was carried aboard by night; and the king himself, with his wife and children, (if rather it were not true that he had with him only Philip3, his elder son, who was only by adoption his son, being his brother by nature,) with much ado got out of a window by a rope, and over a mud-wall. At his coming to the sea-side, he found no Oroandes there; the Cretans had played a Cretan trick, and he was gone with the money to his own home. So it began to wax clear day, whilst Perseus was searching all along the shore, who had staid so long about this that he might fear to be intercepted ere he could recover the temple. He ran therefore amain towards his lodging, and thinking it not safe to enter it the common way, lest he should be taken, he hid himself in an obscure corner. His pages missing him, ran up and down making inqui ry, till Octavius made proclamation, that all the king's pages and Macedonians whatsoever, abiding with their master in Samothrace, should have their lives and liberty, with all to them belonging, whichthey had either in that isle, or at home in Macedon, conditionally, that they should presently yield themselves to the Romans. Hereupon they all came in. Likewise Ion, a Thessalonian, to whom the king had gi

3 Plut. in vit. Emil. Liv. lib. 45. Liv. lib. 42.

ven the custody of his children, delivered them up to Octavius. Lastly, Perseus himself, with his son Philip, accusing the gods of Samothrace that had no better protected him, rendered himself, and made the Roman victory complete. If he had not trusted in those gods of Samothrace, but employed his whole care in the defence of Macedon, without other hopes of living than of reigning therein, he might well have brought this war to an happier end. Now, by dividing his cogitations, and pursuing at once those contrary hopes of saving his kingdom by arms, and himself by flight, he is become a spectacle of misery, and one among the number of those princes that have been wretched by their own default. He was presently sent away to Æmilius, before whom he fell to the ground so basely, that he seemed thereby to dishonour the victory over himself, as gotten upon one of abject quality, and therefore the less to be esteemed. Æmilius used to him the language of a gentle victor, blaming him, though mildly, for having with so hostile a mind made war upon the Romans. Hereto good answer might have been returned by one of better spirit. As for Perseus, he answered all with a fearful silence. He was comforted with hope of life, or, (as the consul termed it,) almost assurance; for that such was the mercy of the people of Rome. After these good words, being invited to the consul's table, and respectively entreated, he was committed prisoner to Q. Elius.

Such end had this Macedonian war, after four years continuance; and such end therewithal had the kingdom of Macedon, the glory whereof, that had some time filled all parts of the world then known, was now translated unto Rome.

SECT. IX.

Gentius, king of the Illyrians, taken by the Romans.

ABOUT the same time, and with like celerity, Anicius, the Roman prætor, who succeeded unto App. Claudius, had the like success against king Gentius, the Illyrian. Gentius had an army of fifteen thousand, with which he was at Lissus, ready to assist king Perseus as soon as the money should come, whereof he had received only ten talents. But Anicius arrested him on the way; fought with him, overcame him, and drove him into Scodra'. This town was very defensible by nature, besides the help of fortification, and strongly manned with all the force of Illyria; which, assisted with the king's presence, made it seem impossible to be won in any, not a very long time. Yet Anicius was confident in his late victory, and therefore presented his army before the walls, making countenance to give an assault. The Illyrians, that might easily have defended themselves within the town, would needs issue forth and fight. They were, it seems, rather passionate than courageous, for they were beaten, and thereupon forthwith began amazedly to treat about yielding. The king sent embassadors, by whom, at first, he desired truce for three days, that he might deliberate concerning his estate. It ill became him, who had laid violent hands on the Roman embassadors, to have recourse to such mediation. But he thought his own fault pardonable, inasmuch as hitherto there was no greater harm done by him than the casting of those embassadors into prison, where they were still alive. Having obtained three days respite, he passed up a rivor,

1 Called now Scutari.

within half a mile of the Roman camp, into the lake of Scodra, as it were to consult the more privately; though indeed to hearken whether the report were true, that his brother Caravantius was coming to his rescue. Finding that no such help was toward, it is a wonder that he was so foolish as to return into Scodra. He sent messengers craving access unto the prætor, before whom, having lamented his folly past, (which, excepting the dishonesty, was not so great as his folly present,) he fell down humbly, and yielded himself to discretion. All the towns of his kingdom, together with his wife, children, brother, and friends, were presently given up. So this war ended in thirty days, the people of Rome not knowing that it was begun, until Perpenna, one of the embassadors that had been imprisoned, brought word from Anicius how all had passed.

SECT. X.

How the Romans behaved themselves in Greece and Macedon, after their victory over Perseus.

Now began the Romans to swell with the pride of their fortune, and to look tyrannically upon those that had been unmannerly towards them before, whilst the war with Perseus seemed full of danger. The Rhodian embassadors were still at Rome when the tidings of these victories were brought thither. Wherefore it was thought good to call them into the senate, and bid them do their errand again. This they performed with a bad grace, saying, that they were sent from Rhodes to make an overture of peace; forasmuch as it was thought that this war was no less grievous to the Romans themselves than to the Macedonians and many others; but that now VOL. VI.

Y

they were very glad; and in behalf of the Rhodians did congratulate with the senate and people of Rome, that it was ended much more happily than had been expected. Hereto the senate made answer, that the Rhodians had sent this embassy to Rome, not for love of Rome, but in favour of the Macedonian, whose partisans they were, and should be so taken. By these threats, and the desire of some, (covetous of the charge,) to have war proclaimed against Rhodes, the embassadors were so affrighted, that in mourning apparel, as humble suppliants, they went about the city, beseeching all men, especially the great ones, to pardon their indiscretion, and not to prosecute them with vengeance for some foolish words. This danger of war from Rome being known at Rhodes, all that had been any whit averse from the Romans in the late war of Macedon, were either taken and condemned, or sent prisoners to Rome; excepting some that slew themselves for fear, whose goods also were confiscated. Yet this procured little grace, and less would have done, if old M. Cato, a man by nature vehement, had not uttered a mild sentence, and advertised the senate, that in decreeing war against Rhodes, they should much dishonour themselves, and make it thought, that rather the wealth of that city', which they were thought greedy to ransack, than any just cause, had moved them thereto. This consideration, together with their good deserts in the wars of Philip and Antiochus, helped well the Rhodians; among whom none of any mark remained alive, save those that had been of the Roman faction. All which notwithstanding, many years passed, ere by importunate suit they could be admitted into the society of the Romans; a favour which, till now, they had not esteemed, but thought themselves better without it, as equal friends.

1 Cæsar in orat. apud Salust de Conjurat. Catiling.

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