to all Greece; conjuring them not to form any rash resolution in an affair of so much importance as that in question: that bold resolutions, adopted with heat and vivacity, might have a pleasing prospect at first, but that the difficulty of putting them in execution appeared afterwards, and that they were very rarely successful: that the Roman ambassadors, among whom was Quintius, were not far off: that as things were still undecided, it would show more wisdom to weigh and examine deliberately, in peaceable interviews, their several claims and pretensions, than to involve precipitately Europe and Asia in a war, of which the conse quences could not but be deplorable.

The populace, who are ever greedy of novelty, were entirely for Antiochus, and were even against admitting the Romans into the assembly; so that the oldest and wisest among them were forced to employ all their influence, before they could prevail to have them called in. Accordingly Quintius came thither, not so much from any hopes he entertained of being able to make the least impression on the minds of the people, as to prove to all mankind that the Ætolians were the sole cause of the war which was going to break out; and that the Romans would be forced to engage in it against their wills, and merely through necessity. He began, by recalling to their memories the time in which the Etolians had concluded an alliance with the Romans : he made a transient mention of the many points in which they had infringed it; and, after saying very little with regard to the cities which were the pretext of their quarrel, he only observed, that if they imagined themselves aggrieved, it would appear much more reasonable to make their remonstrances to the senate, who were always ready to hear their complaints, than, out of mere wantonness, to blow up a war between the Romans and Antiochus, which would disturb the peace of the universe, and infallibly terminate in the ruin of those who promoted it.

The event proved the truth of his representations; which, however, were disregarded at that time. Thoas, and those of his faction, were heard with great attention; and obtained, without delay, and even in the presence of the Romans, that a decree should be made, to invite Antiochus to come and deliver Greece, and be the arbiter of the differences between the Etolians and Romans. Quintius desiring a copy of this decree, Damocritus (then in office) was so inconsiderate as to answer in the most insolent tone, that he had business of much greater consequence upon his hands at that time; but that he himself would soon carry this decree into Italy, and encamp on the banks of the Tyber: so violent and furious a spirit had seized all the Ætolians, and even their principal

magistrates. Quintius, and the rest of the ambassadors, returned to Corinth.

a

The Etolian privy council formed, in one day, three very astonishing resolutions-to seize, by a treacherous stratagem, Demetrias, Chalcis, and Lacedæmon; and three of the principal citizens were charged with the execution of these expeditions.

Diocles set out for Demetrias, where, being assisted by the faction of Eurylochus, who was an exile, but appeared then at the head of the forces which Diocles had brought, he made himself master of the city.

But Thoas was not so successful in Chalcis, which he imagined he should be able to seize by the help of an exile: for the magistrates, who were strongly attached to the Romans, having received advice of the attempt that was meditating against their city, put it in a good posture of defence, and enabled it to sustain a vigorous siege. Thus Thoas, failing in his design, returned back in the utmost confusion.

The enterprise against Sparta was much more delicate, and of greater importance. No access could be had to it, but under the mask of friendship. Nabis had long solicited the aid of the Etolians.-Alexamenes was therefore ordered to march a thousand foot thither. To these were added thirty young men, the flower of the cavalry, who were strictly enjoined by the magistrates to execute punctually their leader's orders, of what nature soever they might be. The tyrant received Alexamenes with great joy. Both used to march out their troops every day, and exercise them in the plain on the side of the Eurotas. One day, Alexamenes, having given the word to his troopers, he attacks Nabis, whom he had purposely drawn into a solitary place, and throws him from his horse. Immediately all the troopers fall on, and cover him with wounds. Alexamenes, without losing time, returns to the city to seize on Nabis's palace. Had he convened the assembly that instant, and made a speech suitable to the occasion, his business would have been done, and Sparta had declared for the Etolians: but he spent the remainder of the day, and the whole night, in searching after the tyrant's treasures; and his troops, by his example, began to plunder the city. The Spartans, taking up arms, made a great slaughter of the Ætolians, dispersed in quest of booty, and march directly to the palace, where they kill Alexamenes, whom they found with little or no guard, and solely intent upon securing his rich spoils. Such was the result of the enterprise against Sparta.

ს Philopomen, general of the Achæans, no sooner heard of Nabis's death, than he marched a considerable body of

a Liv. 1. xxxv. n. 34-39.

& Plut. in Philop. p. 364, 365.

troops towards Sparta, where he found all things in the utmost disorder. He assembled the principal citizens, made a speech to them, as Alexamenes ought to have done, and prevailed so far between arguments and compulsion, that he engaged that city to join in the Achæan league.

This success greatly increased the reputation of Philopo men with those states: his having brought over to the league a city of so great power and authority as Sparta, being justly esteemed a service of no small importance. By this means he also gained the friendship and confidence of the worthiest men in Lacedæmonia, who hoped he would prove their guarantee, and the defender of their liberty. For this reason, after the palace and furniture of Nabis had been sold, they resolved by a public decree, to make him a present of the monies arising from that sale, amounting to an hundred and twenty a talents; and sent him a deputation to desire his acceptance of them.

On this occasion, says Plutarch, it was very evident, that the virtue of this great personage was of the purest and most perfect kind; and that he not only appeared a good and virtuous man, but was really such: not one of the Spartans would undertake the commission of offering him that present. Struck with veneration and fear, they all excused themselves; and therefore it was at last resolved to send Timolaus, who had formerly been his guest.

When he arrived at Megalopolis, he lodged at the house of Philopomen, who gave him the kindest reception. Here he had an opportunity of considering the gravity of his whole conduct, the greatness of his sentiments, the frugality of his life, and the regularity of his manners, that rendered him invincible and incorruptible by money. Timolaus was so astonished at all he saw, that he did not dare so much as to mention to Philopomen the present he was come to offer him; so that, giving some other pretence to his journey, he returned as he came. Timolaus was sent again, but was not more successful than before. At last, going a third time, he ventured (but with great reluctance) to acquaint Philopomen with the good-will of the Spartans.

Philopomen heard him with great tranquillity; but the instant he had done speaking, he went to Sparta: where, after expressing the highest gratitude to the Spartans, he advised them not to lay out their money in bribing and corrupting such of their friends as were men of probity, because they might always enjoy the benefit of their virtue and wisdom without expense to themselves; but to keep their gold to purchase and corrupt the wicked, and those who in councils perplexed and divided the city by their seditious dis

a An hundred and twenty thousand crowns.

courses; in order that, being paid for their silence, they might not occasion so many distractions in the government. "For it is much more advisable," added he," to stop an "enemy's mouth, than that of a friend." Such was the disinterestedness of Philopomen. Let the reader compare these great and noble sentiments with the baseness of those grovelling wretches whose whole study is to heap up riches.

a Thoas had repaired to the court of Antiochus, and by the mighty promises he made that prince, by all he told him concerning the present state of Greece, and especially by the resolutions which had been taken in the general assembly of the Ætolians, he engaged him to set out immediately for that country. He went with such precipitation, that he did not give himself time to concert the necessary measures for so important a war, nor carry with him a sufficient number of troops. He left behind him Lampsacus, Troas, and Smyrna, three powerful cities, which he ought to have reduced before he declared war; but Antiochus, without wait ing for the troops that were marching to join him from Syria and the East, brought only ten thousand foot and five hundred horse. These troops would hardly have sufficed, had he been to possess himself only of a naked and defenceless country, without having so formidable an enemy as the Romans to oppose.

He arrived first at Demetrius; and from thence, after receiving the decree which had been sent by the Ætolians and their ambassador, he went to Lamia, where their assembly was held. He was received there with the highest demonstrations of joy. He began with apoligizing for his being come with much fewer troops than they expected; insinuating that his expedition was a proof of the zeal he had for their interest, since, at the first signal they gave him, he was come, notwithstanding the inclemency of the season, and without waiting till all things were ready; but that their expectations should soon be answered: that as soon as the season for navigation should arrive, they should see all Greece filled with arms, men, and horses, and all the sea-coasts covered with gallies: that he would spare neither expense, pains nor danger, for the deliverance of Greece, and to acquire for the Ætolians the first rank in it: that with his numerous armies, there would arrive from Asia convoys of every kind: that all he desired of them was, only to provide his troops with whatever might be necessary for their present subsistence. Having ended his speech, he withdrew.

The most judicious in the assembly saw plainly that An tiochus, instead of an effectual and present succour, as he had promised, gave them little more than hopes and pro

a Lov. 1. xxxv. n. 43-45.

mises. They could have wished that they had chosen him only as arbiter and mediator between them and the Romans, and not leader of the war. However, Thoas, having gained a majority, caused Antiochus to be nominated generalissimo.Thirty of their principal men were appointed for his council whenever he should think proper to deliberate with them. SECT. VI.

Antiochus possesses himself of Chalcis and all Eubea.
The Romans proclaim war against him.

a The first subject on which the king and the Ætolians deliberated was, with what enterprise to begin first. It was thought advisable to make a second attempt on Chalcis; and thereupon the troops set out for that city without loss of time. When they were near it, the king permitted the principal Etolians to have a conference with such citizens of Chalcis, as were come out of it on their arrival. The tolians urged them in the strongest terms to conclude an alliance with Antiochus, but without breaking their treaty with the Romans. They declared, that this prince was come into Greece, not to make it the seat of war, but actually to deliver it, and not merely in words as the Romans had done; that nothing could be of greater advantage to the cities of Greece, than to live in amity with both, because that the one would always defend them against the other; and that by this means they would hold both in respect; that they would do well to consider, in case they should not agree to the proposal now made them, the great danger to which they would expose themselves; as the aid they might expect from the Romans was at a great distance, whereas the king was present and at their gates.

Miction, one of the principal citizens of Chalcis, replied, that he could not guess what people it was that Antiochus came to deliver, and for whose sake he had left his kingdom, and was come into Greece. That he knew of no city garrisoned by Roman soldiers, nor that paid the least tribute to the Romans, or complained of being oppressed by them. That as for the inhabitants of Chalcis, they had no occasion for a deliverer, as they were free; nor of a defender, as they enjoyed the sweets of peace, under the protection, and with the amity of the Romans; that they did not refuse the amity either of the king or of the Etolians; but that, if they would show themselves friends, the first thing they were desired to do was, to leave their island; that they were fully determined neither to admit them into their city, nor to make any alliance with them, but in concert with the Romans.

When this answer was reported to the king, as he had a A. M. 3813. Ant. J. C. 191. Liv. l. xxxv. n. 46-51. Appian. in Syriac p. 92, 93,