The Athenians Intercede for the Aetolians
While Amphissa was still being besieged by Manius
Spring of B. C. 190. Coss. L. Cornelius Scipio, C. Laelius. |
Acilius, the Athenians, hearing at that time
both of the distress of the Amphissians and of
the arrival of Publius Scipio, despatched Echedemus and others on an embassy to him, with instructions to
pay their respects to both Lucius and Publius
Scipio, and at the same time to try what could
be done to get peace for the Aetolians.
P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus in Greece as legatus to his brother Lucius.(March.) |
On
their arrival, Publius welcomed them gladly and
treated them with great courtesy; because he
saw that they would be of assistance to him in carrying out
his plans. For he was very desirous of effecting a settlement
in Aetolia on good terms; but had resolved that, if the Aetolians refused to comply, he would at all hazards relinquish that
business for the present, and cross to Asia: for he was well
aware that the ultimate object of the war and of the entire
expedition was not to reduce the Aetolian nation to obedience,
but to conquer Antiochus and take possession of Asia.
Therefore, directly the Athenians mentioned the pacification,
he accepted their suggestion with eagerness, and bade them
sound the Aetolians also. Accordingly, Echedemus and his
colleagues, having sent a preliminary deputation to Hypata,
presently followed in person, and entered into a discussion
with the Aetolian magistrates on the subject of
a pacification.
Aetolian envoys visit the consuls. |
They, too, readily acquiesced
in the suggestion, and certain envoys were appointed to meet the Romans. They found Publius and the army
encamped sixty stades from Amphissa, and there discoursed
at great length on their previous services to Rome. Publius
Scipio adopted in reply a still milder and more conciliatory
style, quoting his own conduct in Iberia and Libya, and
explaining how he had treated all who in those countries had
confided to his honour: and finally expressing an opinion that
they had better put themselves in his hands. At first, all who
were present felt very sanguine that the pacification was about
to be accomplished. But when, in answer to the Aetolian
demand to know on what terms they were to make the peace,
Lucius Scipio explained that they had two alternatives—to
submit their entire case unconditionally to the arbitrament of
Rome, or to pay a thousand talents down and to make an
offensive and defensive alliance with her—the Aetolians
present were thrown into the state of the most painful perplexity at the inconsistency of this announcement with the
previous talk: but finally they said that they would consult
the Aetolians on the terms imposed.