The Roman envoys in Greece.-While this war between the Achaeans and the tyrant was going on the Roman envoys were visiting the cities of their allies, for they felt some apprehension lest the Aetolians might have induced some of them to Lyo over to Antiochus. Thev did not trouble themselves much aaout the Acnaeans:as tnev were m aeciarea nostuity to iv aDIS it was thought that they might be depended upon throughout. Athens was the first place they visited, from there they proceeded to Chalcis, and thence' to Thessaly, where they addressed a largely attended council of the Thessalians. They then went on to Demetrias, where a council of the Magnetes was assembled. Here they had to be careful as to what they said, for some of the leading men were in opposition to Rome and gave wholehearted support to Antiochus and the Aetolians. Their attitude was due to the fact that when it was learnt that Philip's son, who had been detained as a hostage, was released and the tribute imposed upon him remitted.it was stated. amongst other false rumours. that the Romans intended to restore Demetnas to him also. Rather than let that happen Eurylochus, the president of the Magnetes, and some of his party were anxious that the arrival of Antiochus and the Aetolians should bring about a complete change of policy. In meeting this hostile spirit the Roman envovs had to be on their guard lest while removin tnis grounaiess suspicion tney snouia so tar aestroy rxuiip-s hopes as to make an enemy of a man who was for every reason of more importance to them than the Magnetes were.
The envoys confined themselves to pointing out that the whole of Greece was under obligations to Rome for the boon of liberty, Magnesia so especially. Not only had a Macedonian garrison been stationed there, but Philip had built a palace there
LL __- t__」__」___L_, so that they were拓补鼠a. _孤Ve iorc,eu to naVe ineir loru gnu master always 工nelrI0f曰anQlllaSLera1W before their eyes R + all that Rime had done for them would be useless if the Aetolians brought Anti ochus into- that palace and they had to have a new unknown kin gm汉ace of one whom they had known and had experience of.
Their supreme magistrate was called“Magnetarch," and Eurylochus was holding that office at the time. Feeling secure intne powerwmcnmsomcegave the which hisoffice him, he said that he and the Magnetes could not be silent about the report which was widely current that Demetrias was to be given back to Philip. To prevent this the Magnetes were prepared to make every effort and face every danger. Carried away by excitement he threw out the ill-advised remark that even then Demetrias wasnod黔盘in appearance, in reality everything was aof Rome. These words were received with票 murs and protests;some in the assemblv aDDroved. but others were hiied with indignation at his having dared to speak in that.A J. . . way. As for t2uinctius, he was so angry that he_litted up his hands towards heaven and called upon the gods to witness the ingratitude and perfidy of the Magnetes. This exclamation created universal alarm and Zeno, one of their leading men, who had gained great influence amongst them, partly by the refinement which characterised his private life and partly because he had always been a staunch friend to Rome, implored Quinctius and other envoys not to make the whole city responsible for-one man's madness;it was at his own risk that anyone behaved like a madman. The Magnetes were indebted to Titus Quinctius and the Roman people for more than their liberty--for everything, in fact, which men hold dear and sacred; there was nothing which a man could ask the gods to give him that they had not received from them. They would sooner lay frenzied hands upon themselves than violate their friendship with Rome.
The Greek stands ready in the workroom; the English is served. Both faces will read together.
battle of Magnesia — a candidate entry Philip — a candidate entry Quinctius — a candidate entry
The History of Rome, Livy — translated by Rev. Canon Roberts, 1912
Apparatus shelf + pinned Wikisource — Livy, The History of Rome (Rev. Canon Roberts translation, Everyman's Library) · Rev. Canon Roberts, Everyman's Library (J. M. Dent & Sons / E. P. Dutton), first issue 1912; six volumes
license: public-domain (the Roberts translation's Everyman first issue is 1912, pre-1930; Wikisource dates the translation 1905 — either way decades inside the US public domain; digital-door text carries no additional rights)