a They called to mind all the great battles which Greece had fought for the sake of liberty. "After sustaining so "many wars," said they, "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 scarce one man, it ac"quired 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 gaining battles both by sea and land; but then it was for themselves and their country, "not for strangers and foreigners, they fought. That height "of glory was reserved for the Romans."

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, being returned from Argos, was appointed president of the Nemean games. He discharged perfectly well 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 the others, the liberty of Greece.

As he visited the several cities, he established good regulations in them, reformed the administration of justice, 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 amongst them, than he had been in conquering the Macedonians; 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 at Athens, 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, he 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

a Plut. in Flamin.

not terminate merely in causing them to be praised, but also infinitely conduced 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 received such generals as the Romans sent them, but requested earnestly that they might be sent; and they called them in, and put themselves into their hands with joy. And 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 a Plutarch's expression), the whole earth submitted to their empire.

Cornelius, one of the commissioners who had dispersed themselves up and down, came to the assembly of the Greeks which was held at Therma, a city of Ætolia. 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 Ætolians complained, but with modesty, that the Romans, since 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 Ætolians, 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. Accordingly they came to that resolution; and thus ended the war against Philip.

SECT. IV.

The Romans send an embassy to Antiochus. Conspiracy against Ptolemy. Scopas put to death.

The war of Macedonia had ended very seasonably for the Romans, who otherwise would have had upon their hands, at the same time, two powerful enemies, 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.

α Θες συνεφαπτομένο.

This

According to Livy, it was at Thermopyle. It is doubted whether he has justly translated Polybius in this place; ἐὶ τὴν ταλι Θερμικῶν σύνοδον. is said of an assembly of Ætolions in the city of Therme which is in Ætolia.

a After having left himself nothing to fear on the side of Coelosyria and Palestine, by the alliance he had concluded with the king of Egypt, and possessed himself of several cities of Asia Minor, and among them that of Ephesus, he took the most proper measures for the success of his designs, and the reinstating himself in the possession of all those kingdoms which he pretended had formerly belonged to his an

cestors.

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 of themselves unable to resist so powerful an enemy, they had recourse to the Romans for protection, which was soon granted. The Romans saw plainly, that it was their interest to check the progress of Antiochus towards the west; and how fatal the consequence would be, should they suffer him to extend his power by settling on the coast of Asia, according to the plan he had laid down. They were therefore very glad of the opportunity those free cities gave them, of opposing it; and immediately sent an embassy to him.

Before the ambassadors had time to reach Antiochus, he had already sent off detachments from his army, which had formed the sieges of Smyrna and Lampsacus. That prince had passed the Hellespont in person with the rest of it, and possessed himself of all the Thracian Chersonesus. Finding the city of Lysimachia all in ruins (the Thracians having demolished it a few years before) he began to rebuild it, with the design of founding a kingdom there for Seleucushis second son; to bring all the country round it under his dominion, and to make this city the capital of the new kingdom.

At the very time that he was revolving all these new projects, the Roman ambassadors arrived in Thrace. They came up with him at Selymbria, a city of that country, and were attended by some deputies from the Grecian cities in Asia. In the first conferences, the whole time was passed in mutual civilities, which appeared sincere ; but when they proceeded to business, the face of affairs was soon changed. L. Cornelius, who spoke on this occasion, required Antiochus to restore to Ptolemy the several cities in Asia, which he had taken from him; to evacuate all those which had been possessed by Philip; it not being just that he should reap the fruits of the war, which the Romans had carried on against that prince; and not to molest such of the Grecian cities of Asia as enjoyed their liberty, he added, that the Romans a A. M. 3808. Ant. J. C. 196. Liv. 1. xxxiii. n. 38-41. 769, 770. Appian. de bellis. Syr. n. 86-88. Polyb. I xvii. p.

This city stood on the isthmus or neck of the peninsula.

were greatly surprised at Antiochus, for crossing into Europe with two such numerous armies, and so powerful a fleet; and for rebuilding Lysimachia, an undertaking which could have no other view but to invade them.

To all this Antiochus answered, that Ptolemy should have full satisfaction, when his marriage, which was already concluded, should be solemnized. That with regard to such Grecian cities as desired to retain their liberties, it was from him and not from the Romans they were to receive it. With respect to Lysimachia, he declared, that he rebuilt it, with the design of making it the residence of Seleucus his son ; that Thrace, and the Chersonesus, which was part of it, belonged to him; that they had been conquered from Lysimachus by Seleucus Nicator, one of his ancestors; and that he came thither as into his own patrimony. As to Asia, and the cities he had taken there from Philip, he knew not what right the Romans could have to them; and therefore he desired them to interfere no further in the affairs of Asia than he did with those of Italy.

The Romans desiring that the ambassadors of Smyrna and Lampsacus might be called in, they accordingly were admitted. They spoke with so much freedom, as incensed Antiochus to that degree, that he cried in a passion, that the Romans had no business to judge of those affairs. Upon this the assembly broke up in great disorder, none of the parties received satisfaction, and the whole seemed to make a rupture inevitable.

During these negotiations, a report was spread that Ptolemy Epiphanes was dead. Antiochus immediately thought himself master of Egypt, and accordingly went on board his fleet, in order to go and take possession of it. He left his son Seleucus at Lysimachia with the army, to complete the projects he had formed with regard to those parts. He first went to Ephesus, where he caused all his ships in that port to join his fleet, in order to sail as soon as possible for Egypt. On his arrival at Patara in Lycia, certain advice was brought that the report which was spread concerning Ptolemy's death was false. He then changed his course, and made for the island of Cyprus, in order to sieze it; but a storm that arose sunk many of his ships, destroyed a great number of his men and frustrated all his measures. He thought himself very happy in having an opportunity of entering the harbour of Seleucia with his fleet, which he there refitted, and went and wintered in Antiochia, without making any new attempt that year.

• The foundation of the rumour which was spread of Ptolemy's death, was from a conspiracy having been really form a Polyb. 1. xvii. p. 771-773.

ed against his life. This plot was contrived by Scopas. That general seeing himself at the head of all-the foreign troops, the greatest part of which were Etolians (his countrymen) imagined that with so formidable a body of well-disciplined veteran forces, it would be easy for him to usurp the crown during the king's minority. His plan was already formed; and had he not let slip the opportunity, by wasting the time in consulting and debating with his friends, instead of acting, he would certainly have succeeded. Aristomenes the prime minister, being apprised of the conspiracy, laid Scopas under an arrest; after which, he was examined before the council, found guilty, and executed with all his accomplices. This plot made the government confide no longer in the Ætolians, who till then had been in great esteem for their fidelity: most of them were removed from their employments, and sent into their own country. After Scopas's death, immense treasures were found in his coffers, which he had amassed by plundering the provinces over which he commanded. As Scopas, during the course of his victories in Palestine, had subjected Judæa and Jerusalem to the Egyptian empire, the greatest part of his treasures arose, no doubt, from thence. The transition from avarice to perfidy and treason is often very short; and the fidelity of that general, who discovers a passion for riches, cannot be safely relied on.

One of Scopas's principal accomplices was Dicæarchus, who formerly had been admiral to Philip, king of Macedonia. A very strange action is related of this man. That prince having commanded him to fall upon the islands called Cyclades, in open violation of the most solemn treaties, before he came out of the harbour, he set up two altars, one to Injustice and the other to Impiety; and offered sacrifices on both, to insult, as one would imagine, at the same time, both gods and men. As this wretch has so greatly distinguished himself by his crimes, Aristomenes distinguished him also from the rest of the conspirators in his execution. He dispatched all the others by poison, but as for Dicæarchus, he caused him to die in exquisite torments.

The contrivers of the conspiracy being put to death, and all their measures entirely defeated, the king was declared of age, though he had not yet quite attained the years appointed by the laws, and was set upon the throne with great pomp and solemnity. He thereby took the government upon himself, and accordingly began to transact business. As long as Aristomenes was in administration under him, all things went well; but when the king conceived disgust for that faithful and able minister, and not long after put him to death (to rid himself of a man whose virtue was offensive to him), the remainder of his reign was one continued series of disor