Germany； all on a sudden； and nobody knows upon what account； the
people spontaneously gave out a rumour of victory； and the news ran
current through the city； that Antonius himself was slain； his whole
army destroyed； and not so much as a part of it escaped； nay； this
belief was so strong and positive； that many of the magistrates
offered up sacrifice。 But when； at length； the author was sought
for； and none was to be found； it vanished by degrees； every one
shifting it off from himself to another； and； at last； was lost in the
numberless crowd； as in a vast ocean； and； having no solid ground to
support its credit； was in a short time not so much as named in the
city。 Nevertheless； when Domitian marched out with his forces to the
war； he met with messengers and letters that gave him a relation of
the victory； and the rumour； it was found； had come the very day it
was gained； though the distance between the places was more than
twenty…five hundred miles。 The truth of this no man of our time is
ignorant of。
But to proceed。 Cnaeus Octavius； who was joined in command with
Aemilius； came to an anchor with his fleet under Samothrace； where；
out of respect to the gods； he permitted Perseus to enjoy the
benefit of refuge； but took care that he should not escape by sea。
Notwithstanding； Perseus secretly persuaded Oroandes of Crete；
master of a small vessel； to convey him and his treasure away。 He；
however； playing the true Cretan； took in the treasure； and bade him
come； in the night； with his children and most necessary attendants；
to the port by the temple of Ceres； but； as soon as it was evening；
set sail without him。 It had been sad enough for Perseus to be
forced to let down himself； his wife； and children through a narrow
window by a wall… people altogether unaccustomed to hardship and
flying； but that which drew a far sadder sigh from his heart was； when
he was told by a man； as he wandered on the shore； that he had seen
Oroandes under sail in the main sea； it being now about daybreak。
So； there being no hopes left of escaping； he fled back again to the
wall； which he and his wife recovered； though they were seen by the
Romans； before they could reach them。 His children he himself had
delivered into the hands of Ion； one that had been his favourite；
but now proved his betrayer； and was the chief cause that forced him
（beasts themselves will do so when their young ones are taken） to come
and yield himself up to those that had them in their power。 His
greatest confidence was in Nasica； and it was for him he called； but
he not being there； he bewailed his misfortune； and； seeing there
was no possible remedy； surrendered himself to Octavius。 And here；
in particular； he made it manifest that he was possessed with a vice
more sordid than covetousness itself； namely； the fondness of life； by
which he deprived himself even of pity； the only thing that fortune
never takes away from the most wretched。 He desired to be brought to
Aemilius； who arose from his seat； and； accompanied with his
friends； went to receive him； with tears in his eyes； as a great man
fallen by the anger of the gods and his own ill…fortune； when Perseus…
the most shameful of sights… threw himself at his feet； embraced his
knees； and uttered unmanly cries and petitions； such as Aemilius was
not able to bear； nor would vouchsafe to hear： but looking on him with
a sad and angry countenance he said； 〃Why； unhappy man； do you thus
take pains to exonerate fortune of your heaviest charge against her；
by conduct that will make it seem that you are not unjustly in
calamity； and that it is not your present condition； but your former
happiness； that was more than your deserts？ And why depreciate also my
victory； and make my conquests insignificant； by proving yourself a
coward； and a foe beneath a Roman？ Distressed valour challenges
great respect； even from enemies； but cowardice； though never so
successful； from the Romans has always met with scorn。〃 Yet for all
this he took him up； gave him his hand； and delivered him into the
custody of Tubero。 Meantime； he himself carried his sons； his
sons…in…law； and others of chief rank； especially of the younger sort；
back with him into his tent； where for a long time he sat down without
speaking one word； insomuch that they all wondered at him。 At last； he
began to discourse of fortune and human affairs。 〃Is it meet；〃 said
he； 〃for him that knows he is but man； in his greatest prosperity to
pride himself； and be exalted at the conquest of a city； nation； or
kingdom； and not rather well to weigh this change of fortune； in which
all warriors may see an example of their common frailty； and learn a
lesson that there is nothing durable or constant？ For what time can
men select to think themselves secure； when that of victory itself
forces us more than any to dread our own fortune？ and a very little
consideration on the law of things； and how all are hurried round； and
each man's station changed； will introduce sadness in the midst of the
greatest joy。 Or can you； when you see before your eyes the succession
of Alexander himself； who arrived at the height of power and ruled the
greatest empire； in the short space of an hour trodden underfoot… when
you behold a king； that was but even now surrounded with so numerous
an army； receiving nourishment to support his life from the hands of
his conquerors… can you； I say； believe there is any certainty in what
we now possess whilst there is such a thing as chance？ No； young
men； cast off that vain pride and empty boast of victory； sit down
with humility； looking always for what is yet to come； and the
possible future reverses which the divine displeasure may eventually
make the end of our present happiness。〃 It is said that Aemilius；
having spoken much more to the same purpose； dismissed the young men
properly humbled； and with their vainglory and insolence thoroughly
chastened and curbed by his address。
When this was done； he put his army into garrisons； to refresh
themselves； and went himself to visit Greece； and to spend a short
time in relaxations equally honourable and humane。 For as he passed；
he eased the people's grievances； reformed their governments； and
bestowed gifts upon them； to some corn； to others oil out of the
king's storehouses； in which； they report； there were such vast
quantities laid up； that receivers and petitioners were lacking before
they could be exhausted。 In Delphi he found a great square pillar of
white marble； designed for the pedestal of King Perseus's golden
statue； on which he commanded his own to be placed； alleging that it
was but just that the conquered should give place to the conquerors。
In Olympia he is said to have uttered the saying everybody has
heard； that Phidias had carved Homer's Jupiter。 When the ten
commissioners arrived from Rome； he delivered up again to the
Macedonians their cities and country； granting them to live at
liberty； and according to their own laws； only paying the Romans the
tribute of a hundred talents； double which sum they had been wont to
pay to their kings。 Then he celebrated all manner of shows and
games； and sacrifices to the gods； and made great entertainments and
feasts； the charge of all which he liberally defrayed out of the
king's treasury； and showed that he understood the ordering and
placing of his guests； and how every man should be received；
answerably to their rank and quality； with such nice exactness； that
the Greeks were full of wonder； finding the care of these matters of
pleasure did not escape him； and that though involved in such
important business； he could observe correctness in these trifles。 Nor
was it least gratifying to him； that； amidst all the magnificent and
splendid preparations； he himself was always the most grateful
sight； and greatest pleasure to those he entertained。 And he told
those that seemed to wonder at his diligence； that there was the
same spirit shown in marshalling； a banquet as an army； in rendering
the one formidable to the enemy； the other acceptable to the guests。
Nor did men less praise his liberality； and the greatness of his soul；
than his other virtues； for he would not so much as see those great
quantities of silver and gold； which were heaped together out of the
king's palaces； but delivered them to the quaestors； to be put into
the public treasury。 He only permitted his own sons； who were great
lovers of learning； to take the king's books； and when he
distributed rewards due to extraordinary valour； he gave his
son…in…law； Aelius Tubero； a bowl that weighed five pounds。 This is
that Tubero we have already mentioned； who was one of sixteen
relations that lived together； and were all maintained out of one
little farm； and it is said that this was the first plate that ever
entered the house of the Aelii； brought thither as an honour and
reward of virtue； before this time； neither they nor their wives
ever made use either of silver or gold。
Having thus settled everything well； taking his leave of the Greeks；
and exhorting the Macedonians； that； mindful of the liberty they had
received from the Romans； they should endeavour to maintain it by
their obedience to the laws； and concord amongst themselves； he
departed for Epirus； having orders from the senate to give the
soldiers that followed him in the war against Perseus the pillage of
the cities of that country。 That he might set upon them all at once by
surprise and unawares； he summoned ten of the principal men out of
each； whom he commanded； on such an appointed day； to bring all the
gold and silver they had either in their private houses or temples；
and； with every one of these； as if it were for this very purpose； and
under a pretence of searching for and receiving the gold； he sent a
centurion and a guard of soldiers； who； the set day being come； rose
all at once； and at the very self…same time fell upon them； and
proceeded to ransack the cities； so that in one hour a hundred and
fifty thousand persons were made slaves； and threescore and ten cities
sacked。 Yet what was given to each soldier； out of so vast a
destruction and utter ruin； amounted to no more than eleven
drachmas； so tha