This was the time； in public matters； when the Romans were engaged
in war with Perseus； King of the Macedonians； and great complaints
were made of their commanders； who； either through their want of skill
or courage； were conducting matters so shamefully； that they did
less hurt to the enemy than they received from him。 They that not long
before had forced Antiochus the Great to quit the rest of Asia； to
retire beyond Mount Taurus； and confine himself to Syria； glad to
buy his peace with fifteen thousand talents； they that not long
since had vanquished King Philip in Thessaly； and freed the Greeks
from the Macedonian yoke； nay； had overcome Hannibal himself； who
far surpassed all kings in daring and power… thought it scorn that
Perseus should think himself an enemy fit to match the Romans； and
to be able to wage war with them so long on equal terms； with the
remainder only of his father's routed forces； not being aware that
Philip after his defeat had greatly improved both the strength and
discipline of the Macedonian army。 To make which appear； I shall
briefly recount the story from the beginning。
Antigonus； the most powerful amongst the captains and successors
of Alexander； having obtained for himself and his posterity the
title of king； had a son named Demetrius； father to Antigonus；
called Gonatas； and he had a son Demetrius； who； reigning some short
time； died and left a young son called Philip。 The chief men of
Macedon； fearing great confusion might arise in his minority； called
in Antigonus； cousin…german to the late king； and married him to the
widow； the mother of Philip。 At first they only styled him regent
and general； but when they found by experience that he governed the
kingdom with moderation and to general advantage； gave him the title
of king。 This was he that was surnamed Doson； as if he was a great
promiser and a bad performer。 To him succeeded Philip； who in his
youth gave great hopes of equalling the best of kings； and that he one
day would restore Macedon to its former state and dignity； and prove
himself the one man able to check the power of the Romans； now
rising and extending over the whole world。 But； being vanquished in
a pitched battle by Titus Flaminius near Scotussa； his resolution
failed； and he yielded himself and all that he had to the mercy of the
Romans； well contented that he could escape with paying a small
tribute。 Yet afterwards； recollecting himself； he bore it with great
impatience； and though he lived rather like a slave that was pleased
with ease； than a man of sense and courage； whilst he held his kingdom
at the pleasure of his conquerors； which made him turn his whole
mind to war； and prepare himself with as much cunning and privacy as
possible。 To this end； he left his cities on the high roads and
sea…coast ungarrisoned； and almost desolate； that they might seem
inconsiderable； in the meantime； collecting large forces up the
country； and furnishing his inland posts； strongholds； and towns； with
arms； money； and men fit for service； he thus provided himself for
war； and yet kept his preparations close。 He had in his armoury arms
for thirty thousand men； in granaries； in places of strength； eight
millions of bushels of corn； and as much ready money as would defray
the charge of maintaining ten thousand mercenary soldiers for ten
years in defence of the country。 But before he could put these
things into motion； and carry his designs into effect； he died for
griefs and anguish of mind； being sensible he had put his innocent son
Demetrius to death； upon the calumnies of one that was far more
guilty。 Perseus； his son that survived； inherited his hatred to the
Romans as well as his kingdom； but was incompetent to carry out his
designs； through want of courage and the viciousness of a character in
which； among faults and diseases of various sorts； covetousness bore
the chief place。 There is a statement also of his not being true…born；
that the wife of King Philip took him from his mother； Gnathaenion
（a woman of Argos； that earned her living as a seamstress）； as soon as
he was born； and passed him upon her husband as her own。 And this
might be the chief cause of his contriving the death of Demetrius；
as he might well fear that； so long as there was a lawful successor in
the family； there was no security that his spurious birth might not be
revealed。
Notwithstanding all this； and though his spirit was so mean and
temper so sordid； yet trusting to the strength of his resources； he
engaged in a war with the Romans； and for a long time maintained it；
repulsing and even vanquishing some generals of consular dignity；
and some great armies and fleets。 He routed Publius Licinius； who
was the first that invaded Macedonia； in a cavalry battle； slew
twenty…five hundred practiced soldiers； and took six hundred
prisoners； and surprising their fleet as they rode at anchor before
Orens he took twenty ships of burden with all their lading； sunk the
rest that were freighted with corn； and； besides this； made himself
master of four galleys with five banks of oars。 He fought a second
battle with Hostilius； a consular officer； as he was making his way
into the country at Elimiae； and forced him to retreat； and； when he
afterwards by stealth designed an invasion through Thessaly challenged
him to fight； which the other feared to accept。 Nay more； to show
his contempt to the Romans； and that he wanted employment； as a war by
the by； he made an expedition against the Dardanians； in which he slew
ten thousand of those barbarian people； and brought a great spoil
away。 He privately； moreover； solicited the Gauls （also called
Basternae）； a warlike nation and famous for horsemen； dwelling near
the Danube； and incited the Illyrians； by the means of Genthius
their king； to join with him in the war。 It was also reported that the
barbarians； allured by promise of rewards； were to make an irruption
into Italy； through the lower Gaul by the shore of the Adriatic Sea。
The Romans； being advertised of these things； thought it necessary
no longer to choose their commanders by favour or solicitation； but of
their own motion to select a general of wisdom and capacity for the
management of great affairs。 And such was Paulus Aemilius； advanced in
years； being nearly threescore； yet vigorous in his own person； and
rich in valiant sons and sons…in…law； besides a great number of
influential relations and friends； all of whom joined in urging him to
yield to the desires of the people； who called him to the
consulship。 He at first manifested some shyness of the people and
withdrew himself from their importunity； professing reluctance to hold
office； but； when they daily came to his doors； urging him to come
forth to the place of election； and pressing him with noise and
clamour； he acceded to their request。 When he appeared amongst the
candidates； it did not look as if it were to sue for the consulship；
but to bring victory and success； that he came down into the Campus；
they all received him there with such hopes and such gladness；
unanimously choosing him a second time consul； nor would they suffer
the lots to be cast； as was usual； to determine which province
should fall to his share； but immediately decreed him the command of
the Macedonian war。 It is told； that when he had been proclaimed
general against Perseus； and was honourably accompanied home by
great numbers of people； he found his daughter Tertia； a very little
girl； weeping； and taking her to him asked her why she was crying。
She； catching him about the neck and kissing him； said； 〃O father；
do you not know that Perseus is dead？〃 meaning a little dog of that
name that was brought up in the house with her； to which Aemilius
replied； 〃Good fortune； my daughter； I embrace the omen。〃 This Cicero；
the orator； relates in his book on divination。
It was the custom for such as were chosen consuls； from a stage
designed for such purposes； to address the people； and return them
thanks for their favour。 Aemilius； therefore； having gathered an
assembly； spoke and said that he sued for the first consulship；
because he himself stood in need of such honour； but for the second；
because they wanted a general； upon which account he thought there was
no thanks due： if they judged they could manage the war by any other
to more advantage； he would willingly yield up his charge； but； if
they confided in him； they were not to make themselves his
colleagues in his office； or raise reports； and criticize his actions；
but； without talking； supply him with means and assistance necessary
to the carrying on of the war； for if they proposed to command their
own commander they would render this expedition more ridiculous than
the former。 By this speech he inspired great reverence for him amongst
the citizens and great expectations of future success； all were well
pleased that they had passed by such as sought to be preferred by
flattery； and fixed upon a commander endued with wisdom and courage to
tell them the truth。 So entirely did the people of Rome； that they
might rule； and become masters of the world； yield obedience and
service to reason and superior virtue。
That Aemilius； setting forward to the war； by a prosperous voyage
and successful journey； arrived with speed and safety at his camp I
attribute to good fortune； but； when I see how the war under his
command was brought to a happy issue； partly by his own daring
boldness； partly by his good counsel； partly by the ready
administration of his friends； partly by his presence of mind and
skill to embrace the most proper advice in the extremity of danger；
I cannot ascribe any of his remarkable and famous actions （as I can
those of other commanders） to his so much celebrated good fortune；
unless you will say that the covetousness of Perseus was the good
fortune of Aemilius。 The truth is； Perseus' fear of spending his money
was the destruction and utter ruin of all those splendid and great
preparations with which the Macedonians were in high hopes to carry on
the war with success。 For there came at his request ten thousand
horsemen of the Basternae； and as many foot； who were to keep pace
with them； and