"the voice of a herald, liberty had been restored to "all the cities of Greece and Asia. That a great "soul only could have formed such a design; but that to execute it was the effect at once of the highest good fortune, and the most consummate ❝ virtue."

They call to mind all the great battles, which Greece had fought for she 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 de"fence. It was then, that almost without shed"ding a drop of blood, or losing scarce one man, "it acquired 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 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 all the rest, the liberty of Greece.

As he visited the several cities, he established good ordininances in them, reformed laws, restored amity

*Plut. in Flamin.

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 Zenocrates 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 not terminate merely in praising, but was also of infinite service to the augmentation of their power, by inducing all nations to confide in them, and rely on the faith of their enFor they not only received such gegagements. nerals as the Romans sent them, but requested earnestly that they might be sent, 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 Plutarch's expression) the whole earth submitted to their empire. Cornelius, one of the commissioners who had dis

* Θεό συνεφαπλομενα.

persed themselves up and down, came to the assembly of the Greeks which was held at Thermæ*, a city of Etolia. 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 Etolians complained, but with modesty, that the Romans, from the vic tory 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 Etolians, 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. Complaints being made, and suspicions arising concerning Antiochus, the Romans send an embassy to him, which has no other effect, but to dispose both parties for an open rupture. A conspiracy is formed by Scopas the Etolian against Ptolemy. He and his accomplices are put to death. Hannibal retires to Antiochus. War of Flamininus against Nabis, whom he besieges in Sparta: he obliges him to sue for peace, and grants it him. He enters Rome in triumph.

THE war of Macedonia had ended very fortunately for the Romans, who otherwise would have been

According to Livy, it was at Thermopyla. It is doubted whether he has translated justly Polybius in this place: TE @quier curodor. This is said of an assembly of Etolians in the city of Therma, which is in Ætolia.

invaded by two powerful enemies at the same time, Philip and Antiochus: For it is 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.

A. M.

3808.

*After having established good order in Colosyria and Palestine, by the alliance he had concluded with the king of Egypt, and possessed himself of Ant. J.C. several cities of Asia Minor, and among those of 196. Ephesus, he took the most proper measures for the success of his designs; and to give him the possession of all those kingdoms which he pretended had formerly belonged to his ancestors.

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 unable to resist so powerful an enemy, they implored 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. The Romans 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 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

in

a Liv. 1. xxxiii. n. 38-41. Polyb. 1. xvii. p. 769, 770. Appian de bellis Syr. p. 86-88.

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

demolished it a few years before) he began to rebuild it, with the design of founding a kingdom there for Seleucus his second son; to make all the country round it his dominions, and this city the capital of a 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 with deputies from the Grecian cities in Asia. In the first conferences, the whole passed in 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 Antio. chus to restore to Ptolemy the several cities in Asia, which he had taken from him; that he should 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 that he should not molest such of the. Grecian cities of Asia as enjoyed their liberty. He added, that the Romans 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,