horsemen of the Basternae； and as many foot； who were to keep pace
with them； and supply their places in case of failure； all of them
professed soldiers； men skilled neither in tilling of land； nor in
navigation of ships； nor able to get their living by grazing； but
whose only business and single art and trade it was to fight and
conquer all that resisted them。 When these came into the district of
Maedica； and encamped and mixed with the king's soldiers； being men of
great stature； admirable at their exercises； great boasters； and
loud in their threats against their enemies； they gave new courage
to the Macedonians； who were ready to think the Romans would not be
able to confront them； but would be struck with terror at their
looks and motions； they were so strange and so formidable to behold。
When Perseus had thus encouraged his men； and elevated them with these
great hopes； as soon as a thousand gold pieces were demanded for
each captain； he was so amazed and beside himself at the vastness of
the amount； that out of mere stinginess he drew back and let himself
lose their assistance； as if he had been some steward； not the enemy
of the Romans； and would have to give an exact account of the expenses
of the war to those with whom he waged it。 Nay； when he had his foes
as tutors； to instruct him what he had to do； who； besides their other
preparations； had a hundred thousand men drawn together and in
readiness for their service； yet he that was to engage against so
considerable a force； and in a war that was maintaining such numbers
as this； nevertheless doled out his money； and put seals on his
bags； and was as fearful of touching it； as if it had belonged to some
one else。 And all this was done by one； not descended from Lydians
or Phoenicians； but who could pretend to some share of the virtues
of Alexander and Philip； whom he was allied to by birth； men who
conquered the world by judging that empire was to be purchased by
money； not money by empire。 Certainly it became a proverb； that not
Philip； but his gold； took the cities of Greece。 And Alexander； when
he undertook his expedition against the Indians； and found his
Macedonians encumbered and appear to march heavily with their
Persian spoils； first set fire to his own carriages； and thence
persuaded the rest to imitate his example； that thus freed they
might proceed to the war without hindrance。 Whereas Perseus； abounding
in wealth； would not preserve himself； his children； and his
kingdom； at the expense of a small part of his treasure； but chose
rather to be carried away with numbers of his subjects with the name
of the wealthy captive； and show the Romans what great riches he had
husbanded and preserved for them。 For he not only played false with
the Gauls； and sent them away； but also； after alluring Genthius； King
of the Illyrians； by the hopes of three hundred talents； to assist him
in the war； he caused the money to be counted out in the presence of
his messengers； and to be sealed up。 Upon which Genthius； thinking
himself possessed of what he desired； committed a wicked and
shameful act： he seized and imprisoned the ambassadors sent to him
from the Romans。 Whence Perseus； concluding that there was no need
of money to make Genthius an enemy to the Romans； but that he had
given a lasting earnest of his enmity； and by his flagrant injustice
sufficiently involved himself in the war； defrauded the unfortunate
king of his three hundred talents； and without any concern beheld him；
his wife； and children； in a short time after； carried out of their
kingdom； as from their nest； by Lucius Anicius； who was sent against
him with an army。
Aemilius； coming against such an adversary； made light indeed of
him； but admired his preparation and power。 For he had four thousand
horse； and not much fewer than forty thousand full…armed foot of the
phalanx； and planting himself along the seaside； at the foot of
Mount Olympus； in ground with no access on any side； and on all
sides fortified with fences and bulwarks of wood； remained in great
security； thinking by delay and expense to weary out Aemilius。 But he；
in the meantime； busy in thought； weighed all counsels and all means
of attack； and perceiving his soldiers； from their former want of
discipline； to be impatient of delay； and ready on all occasions to
teach their general his duty； rebuked them； and bade them not meddle
with what was not their concern； but only take care that they and
their arms were in readiness； and to use their swords like Romans when
their commander should think fit to employ them。 Further； he ordered
that the sentinels by night should watch without javelins； that thus
they might be more careful and surer to resist sleep； having no arms
to defend themselves against any attacks of an enemy。
What most annoyed the army was the want of water； for only a little；
and that foul； flowed out； or rather came by drops from a spring
adjoining the sea； but Aemilius； considering that he was at the foot
of the high and woody mountain Olympus； and conjecturing by the
flourishing growth of the trees that there were springs that had their
course underground； dug a great many holes and wells along the foot of
the mountain； which were presently filled with pure water escaping
from its confinement into the vacuum they afforded。 Although there are
some； indeed； who deny that there are reservoirs of water lying
ready provided out of sight； in the places from whence springs flow；
and that when they appear； they merely issue and run out； on the
contrary； they say； they are then formed and come into existence for
the first time； by the liquefaction of the surrounding matter； and
that this change is caused by density and cold； when the moist vapour；
by being closely pressed together； becomes fluid。 As women's breasts
are not like vessels full of milk always prepared and ready to flow
from them； but their nourishment being changed in their breasts； is
there made milk； and from thence is pressed out。 In like manner；
places of the earth that are cold and full of springs； do not
contain any hidden waters or receptacles which are capable； as from
a source always ready and furnished； of supplying all the brooks and
deep rivers； but by compressing and condensing the vapours and air
they turn them into that substance。 And thus places that are dug open；
flow by that pressure； and afford the more water （as the breasts of
women do milk by their being sucked）； the vapour thus moistening and
becoming fluid； whereas ground that remains idle and undug is not
capable of producing any water； whilst it wants the motion which is
the cause of liquefaction。 But those that assert this opinion give
occasion to the doubtful to argue； that on the same ground there
should be no blood in living creatures； but that it must be formed
by the wound； some sort of spirit or flesh being changed into a liquid
and flowing matter。 Moreover； they are refuted by the fact that men
who dig mines； either in sieges or for metals； meet with rivers； which
are not collected by little and little （as must necessarily be； if
they had their being at the very instant the earth was opened）； but
break out at once with violence； and upon the cutting through a
rock； there often gush out great quantities of water； which then as
suddenly cease。 But of this enough。
Aemilius lay still for some days； and it is said that there were
never two great armies so nigh that enjoyed so much quiet。 When he had
tried and considered all things； he was informed that there was yet
one passage left unguarded； through Perrhaebia by the temple of Apollo
and the Rock。 Gathering； therefore； more hope from the place being
left defenceless than fear from the roughness and difficulty of the
passage； he proposed it for consultation。 Amongst those that were
present at the council； Scipio； surnamed Nasica； son…in…law to
Scipio Africanus； who afterwards was so powerful in the
senate…house； was the first that offered himself to command those that
should be sent to encompass the enemy。 Next to him； Fabius Maximus；
eldest son of Aemilius； although yet very young； offered himself
with great zeal。 Aemilius； rejoicing； gave them； not so many as
Polybius states； but； as Nasica himself tells us in a brief letter
which he wrote to one of the kings with an account of the
expedition； three thousand Italians that were not Romans； and his left
wing consisting of five thousand。 Taking with him； besides these；
one hundred and twenty horsemen； and two hundred Thracians and Cretans
intermixed that Harpalus had sent； he began his journey towards the
sea； and encamped near the temple of Hercules； as if he designed to
embark； and so to sail round and environ the enemy。 But when the
soldiers had supped and it was dark； he made the captains acquainted
with his real intentions； and marching all night in the opposite
directions away from the sea； till he came under the temple of Apollo；
there rested his army。 At this place Mount Olympus rises in height
more than ten furlongs； as appears by the epigram made by the man that
measured it：…
〃The summit of Olympus； at the site
Where stands Apollo's temple； has a height
Of full ten furlongs by the line； and more；
Ten furlongs； and one hundred feet； less four。
Eumelus's son； Xenagoras； reached the place。
Adieu； O king； and do thy pilgrim grace。〃
It is allowed； say the geometricians； that no mountain in height
or sea in depth exceeds ten furlongs； and yet it seems probable that
Xenagoras did not take his admeasurement carelessly； but according
to the rules of art； and with instruments for the purpose。 Here it was
that Nasica passed the night。
A Cretan deserted； who fled to the enemy during the march；
discovered to Perseus the design which the Romans had to encompass
him： for he； seeing that Aemilius lay still； had not suspected any
such attempt。 He was startled at the news； yet did not put his army in
motion； but sent ten thousand mercenary soldiers； and two thousand
Macedonians； under command of Milo； with order to hasten and possess
themselves of the passes。 Polybius relates that the Romans found these