Macedonians； under command of Milo； with order to hasten and possess
themselves of the passes。 Polybius relates that the Romans found these
men asleep when they attacked them； but Nasica says there was a
sharp and severe conflict on the top of the mountain； that he
himself encountered a mercenary Thracian； pierced him through with his
javelin； and slew him； and that the enemy being forced to retreat；
Milo stripped to his coat and fled shamefully without his armour；
while he followed without danger； and conveyed the whole army down
into the country。
After this event； Perseus； now grown fearful； and fallen from his
hopes； removed his camp in all haste； he was under the necessity
either to stop before Pydna； and there run the hazard of a battle；
or disperse his army into cities； and there expect the event of the
war； which； having once made its way into his country； could not be
driven out without great slaughter and bloodshed。 But Perseus； being
told by his friends that he was much superior in number； and that
men fighting in the defence of their wives and children must needs
feel all the more courage； especially when all was done in the sight
of their king； who himself was engaged in equal danger； was thus again
encouraged； and； pitching his camp； prepared himself to fight；
viewed the country； and gave out the commands； as if he designed to
set upon the Romans as soon as they approached。 The place was a
field fit for the action of a phalanx； which requires smooth
standing and even ground； and also had divers little hills； one
joining another； fit for the motions whether in retreat or advance
of light troops and skirmishers。 Through the middle ran the rivers
Aeson and Leucus； which though not very deep； it being the latter
end of summer； yet were likely enough to give the Romans some trouble。
As soon as Aemilius had rejoined Nasica； he advanced in battle array
against the enemy； but when he found how they were drawn up； and the
number of their forces； he regarded them with admiration and surprise；
and halted； considering within himself。 The young commanders； eager to
fight； riding along by his side； pressed him not to delay； and most of
all Nasica； flushed with his late success on Olympus。 To whom Aemilius
answered with a smile： 〃So would I do were I of your age； but many
victories have taught me the ways in which men are defeated； and
forbid me to engage soldiers weary with a long march against an army
drawn up and prepared for battle。〃
Then he gave command that the front of his army； and such as were in
sight of the enemy； should form as if ready to engage； and those in
the rear should cast up the trenches and fortify the camp； so that the
hindmost in succession wheeling off by degrees and withdrawing；
their whole order was insensibly broken up； and the army encamped
without noise or trouble。
When it was night； and； supper being over； all were turning to sleep
and rest； on a sudden the moon； which was then at full and high in the
heavens； grew dark； and by degrees losing her light； passed through
various colours； and at length was totally eclipsed。 The Romans；
according to their custom； clattering brass pans and lifting up
fire…brands and torches into the air； invoked the return of her light；
the Macedonians behaved far otherwise： terror and amazement seized
their whole army； and a rumour crept by degrees into their camp that
this eclipse portended even that of their king。 Aemilius was no novice
in these things； nor was ignorant of the nature of the seeming
irregularities of eclipses… that in a certain revolution of time；
the moon in her course enters the shadow of the earth and is there
obscured； till； passing the region of darkness； she is again
enlightened by the sun。 Yet being a devout man； a religious observer
of sacrifices and the art of divination； as soon as he perceived the
moon beginning to regain her former lustre； he offered up to her
eleven heifers。 At the break of day he sacrificed as many as twenty in
succession to Hercules； without any token that his offering was
accepted； but at the one…and…twentieth； the signs promised victory
to defenders。 He then vowed a hecatomb and solemn sports to
Hercules； and commanded his captains to make ready for battle； staying
only till the sun should decline and come round to the west； lest；
being in their faces in the morning； it should dazzle the eyes of
his soldiers。 Thus he whiled away the time in his tent； which was open
towards the plain where his enemies were encamped。
When it grew towards evening； some tell us； Aemilius himself used
a stratagem to induce the enemy to begin the fight； that he turned
loose a horse without a bridle； and sent some of the Romans to catch
him； upon whose following the beast the battle began。 Others relate
that the Thracians； under the command of one Alexander； set upon the
Roman beasts of burden that were bringing forage to the camp； that
to oppose these； a party of seven hundred Ligurians were immediately
detached； and that； relief coming still from both armies； the main
bodies at last engaged。 Aemilius； like a wise pilot； foreseeing by the
present waves and motion of the armies the greatness of the
following storm； came out of his tent； went through the legions； and
encouraged his soldiers。 Nasica； in the meantime； who had ridden out
to the skirmishers； saw the whole force of the enemy on the point of
engaging。 First marched the Thracians； who； he himself tells us；
inspired him with most terror； they were of great stature； with bright
and glittering shields and black frocks under them； their legs armed
with greaves； and they brandished； as they moved； straight and
heavily…ironed spears over their right shoulders。 Next the Thracians
marched the mercenary soldiers； armed after different fashions； with
these Paeonians were mingled。 These were succeeded by a third
division； of picked men； native Macedonians； the choicest for
courage and strength； in the prime of life； gleaming with gilt
armour and scarlet coats。 As these were taking their places they
were followed from the camp by the troops in phalanx called the Brazen
Shields； so that the whole plain seemed alive with the flashing of
steel and the glistening of brass； and the hills also with their
shouts； as they cheered each other on。 In this order they marched； and
with such boldness and speed； that those that were first slain died at
but two furlongs distance from the Roman camp。
The battle being begun； Aemilius came in and found that the foremost
of the Macedonians had already fixed the ends of their spears into the
shields of his Romans； so that it was impossible to come near them
with their swords。 When he saw this； and observed that the rest of the
Macedonians took the targets that hung on their left shoulders； and
brought them round before them； and all at once stooped their pikes
against their enemies' shields； and considered the great strength of
this wall of shields； and the formidable appearance of a front thus
bristling with arms； he was seized with amazement and alarm； nothing
he had ever seen before had been equal to it； and in aftertimes he
frequently used to speak both of the sight and of his own
sensations。 These； however； he dissembled； and rode through his army
without either breastplate or helmet； with a serene and cheerful
countenance。
On the contrary； as Polybius relates； no sooner was the battle
begun； but the Macedonian king basely withdrew to the city Pydna；
under a pretence of sacrificing to Hercules； a god that is not wont to
regard the faint offerings of cowards； or to fulfil unsanctioned vows。
For truly it can hardly be a thing that heaven would sanction； that he
that never shoots should carry away the prize； he triumph that
slinks from the battle； he that takes no pains meet with success； or
the wicked man prosper。 But to Aemilius's petitions the god
listened； he prayed for victory with his sword in his hand； and fought
while entreating divine assistance。
A certain Posidonius； who has at some length written a history of
Perseus； and professes to have lived at the time； and to have been
himself engaged in these events； denies that Perseus left the field
either through fear or pretence of sacrificing； but that； the very day
before the fight； he received a kick from a horse on his thigh； that
though very much disabled； and dissuaded by all his friends； he
commanded one of his riding…horses to be brought； and entered the
field unarmed； that amongst an infinite number of darts that flew
about on all sides； one of iron lighted on him； and though not with
the point； yet by a glance struck him with such force on his left side
that it tore his clothes and so bruised his flesh that the mark
remained a long time after。 This is what Posidonius says in defence of
Perseus。
The Romans not being able to make a breach in the phalanx； one
Salius； a commander of the Pelignians； snatched the ensign of his
company and threw it amongst the enemies； on seeing which； the
Pelignians （as amongst the Italians it is always thought the
greatest breach of honour to abandon a standard） rushed with great
violence towards the place； where the conflict grew very fierce and
the slaughter terrible on both sides。 For these endeavoured to cut the
spears asunder with their swords； or to beat them back with their
shields； or put them by with their hands； and； on the other side；
the Macedonians held their long sarissas in both hands； and pierced
those that came in their way quite through their armour； no shield
or corslet being able to resist the force of that weapon。 The
Pelignians and Marrucinians were thrown headlong to the ground； having
without consideration； with mere animal fury； rushed upon a certain
death。 Their first ranks being slain； those that were behind were
forced to give back； it cannot be said they fled； but they retreated
towards Mount Olocrus。 When； Aemilius saw this； Posidonius relates； he
rent his clothes； some of his men being ready to fly； and the rest not
willing to engage with a phalanx into which they could not hope to
make any entrance… a sort of palisade； as it were； impregnable and
unapproachable； with its close array of