difficulty in buying； they nevertheless abstained altogether from
plundering the country； which had provisions enough of all sorts in
it。 For intelligence being received that Philip； making a flight；
rather than a march； through Thessaly； forced the inhabitants from the
towns to take shelter in the mountains； burnt down the towns
themselves； and gave up as spoil to his soldiers all the property
which it had been found impossible to remove； abandoning； as it
would seem； the whole country to the Romans； Titus was； therefore；
very desirous； and entreated his soldiers that they would pass through
it as if it were their own； or as if a place trusted into their hands；
and； indeed； they quickly perceived； by the event； what benefit they
derived from this moderate and orderly conduct。 For they no sooner set
foot in Thessaly； but the cities opened their gates； and the Greeks；
within Thermopylae； were all eagerness and excitement to ally
themselves with them。 The Achaeans abandoned their alliance with
Philip； and voted to join with the Romans in actual arms against
him； and the Opuntians； though the Aetolians； who were zealous
allies of the Romans； were willing and desirous to undertake the
protection of the city； would not listen to proposals from them； but
sending for Titus； intrusted and committed themselves to his charge。
It is told of Pyrrhus； that when first； from an adjacent hill or
watchtower which gave him a prospect of the Roman army； he descried
them drawn up in order； he observed； that he saw nothing
barbarian…like in this barbarian line of battle； And all who came near
Titus could not choose but say as much of him； at their first view。
For they who had been told by the Macedonians of an invader； at the
head of a barbarian army； carrying everywhere slavery and
destruction on his sword's point； when； in lieu of such an one； they
met a man； in the flower of his age； of a gentle and humane aspect；
a Greek in his voice and language； and a lover of honour； were
wonderfully pleased and attracted； and when they left him； they filled
the cities； wherever they went； with favourable feelings for him；
and with the belief that in him they might find the protector and
assertor of their liberties。 And when afterwards； on Philip's
professing a desire for peace； Titus made a tender to him of peace and
friendship； upon the condition that the Greeks he left to their own
laws； and that he should withdraw his garrisons； which he refused to
comply with； now after these proposals the universal belief even of
the favourers and partisans of Philip was； that the Romans came not to
fight against the Greeks； but for the Greeks against the Macedonians。
Accordingly； all the rest of Greece came to peaceable terms with
him。 But as he marched into Boeotia； without committing the least
act of hostility； the nobility and chief men of Thebes came out of
their city to meet him； devoted under the influence of Brachylles to
the Macedonian alliance； but desirous at the same time to show
honour and deference to Titus； as they were； they conceived； in
amity with both parties。 Titus received them in the most obliging
and courteous manner； but kept going gently on； questioning and
inquiring of them； and sometimes entertaining them with narratives
of his own； till his soldiers might a little recover from the
weariness of their journey。 Thus passing on； he and the Thebans came
together into their city； not much to their satisfaction； but yet they
could not well deny him entrance； as a good number of his men attended
him in。 Titus； however； now he was within； as if he had not had the
city at his mercy； came forward and addressed them； urging them to
join the Roman interest。 King Attalus followed to the same effect。 And
he； indeed； trying to play the advocate； beyond what it seems his
age could bear； was seized； in the midst of his speech； with a
sudden flux or dizziness； and swooned away； and； not long after； was
conveyed by ship into Asia； and died there。 The Boeotians joined the
Roman alliance。
But now； when Philip sent an embassy to Rome； Titus despatched
away agents on his part； too； to solicit the senate； if they should
continue the war； to continue him in his command； or if they
determined an end to that； that he might have the honour of concluding
the peace。 Having a great passion for distinction； his fear was；
that if another general were commissioned to carry on the war； the
honour even of what was passed would be lost to him； and his friends
transacted matters so well on his behalf； that Philip was unsuccessful
in his proposals； and the management of the war was confirmed in his
hands。 He no sooner received the senate's determination； but； big with
hopes； he marched directly into Thessaly； to engage Philip； his army
consisting of twenty…six thousand men； out of which the Aetolians
furnished six thousand foot and four hundred horse。 The forces of
Philip were much about the same number。 In this eagerness to
encounter； they advanced against each other； till both were near
Scotussa； where they resolved to hazard a battle。 Nor had the approach
of these two formidable armies the effect that might have been
supposed； to strike into the generals a mutual terror of each other；
it rather inspired them with ardour and ambition； on the Romans' part；
to be the conquerors of Macedon； a name which Alexander had made
famous amongst them for strength and valour； whilst the Macedonians；
on the other hand； esteeming of the Romans as an enemy very
different from the Persians； hoped； if victory stood on their side； to
make the name of Philip more glorious than that of Alexander。 Titus；
therefore； called upon his soldiers to play the part of valiant men；
because they were now to act their parts upon the most illustrious
theatre of the world； Greece； and to contend with the bravest
antagonists。 And Philip； on the other side； commenced a harangue to
his men； as usual before an engagement； and to be the better heard
（whether it were merely a mischance； or the result of unseasonable
haste； not observing what he did）； mounted an eminence outside their
camp； which proved to be a burying…place； and much disturbed by the
despondency that seized his army at the unluckiness of the omen； all
that day kept in his camp； and declined fighting。
But on the morrow； as day came on； after a soft and rainy night； the
clouds changing into a mist filled all the plain with thick
darkness； and a dense foggy air descending； by the time it was full
day； from the adjacent mountains into the ground betwixt the two
camps； concealed them from each other's view。 The parties sent out
on either side； some for ambuscade； some for discovery； falling in
upon one another quickly after they were thus detached； began the
fight at what are called the Cynos Cephalae； a number of sharp tops of
hills that stand close to one another； and have the name from some
resemblance in their shape。 Now many vicissitudes and changes
happening； as may well be expected； in such an uneven field of battle；
sometimes hot pursuit； and sometimes as rapid a flight； the generals
on both sides kept sending in succours from the main bodies； as they
saw their men pressed or giving ground； till at length the heavens
clearing up； let them see what was going on； upon which the whole
armies engaged。 Philip； who was in the right wing； from the
advantage of the higher ground which he had； threw on the Romans the
whole weight of his phalanx； with a force which they were unable to
sustain； the dense array of spears； and the pressure of the compact
mass overpowering them。 But the king's left wing being broken up by
the hilliness of the place； Titus observing it； and cherishing
little or no hopes on that side where his own gave ground； makes in
all haste to the other； and there charges in upon the Macedonians；
who； in consequence of the inequality and roughness of the ground；
could not keep their phalanx entire； nor line their ranks to any great
depth （which is the great point of their strength）； but were forced to
fight man for man under heavy and unwieldy armour。 For the
Macedonian phalanx is like some single powerful animal； irresistible
so long as it is embodied into one； and keeps its order； shield
touching shield； all as in a piece； but if it be once broken； not only
is the joint force lost； but the individual soldiers also who composed
it lose each one his own single strength； because of the nature of
their armour； and because each of them is strong； rather； as he
makes a part of the whole； than in himself。 When these were routed；
some gave chase to the flyers； others charged the flanks of those
Macedonians who were still fighting； so that the conquering wing；
also； was quickly disordered； took to flight； and threw down its arms。
There were then slain no less than eight thousand； and about five
thousand were taken prisoners； and the Aetolians were blamed as having
been the main occasion that Philip himself got safe off。 For whilst
the Romans were in pursuit； they fell to ravaging and plundering the
camp； and did it so completely； that when the others returned； they
found no booty in it。
This bred at first hard words； quarrels； and misunderstandings
betwixt them。 But； afterwards； they galled Titus more by ascribing the
victory to themselves； and prepossessing the Greeks with reports to
that effect； insomuch that poets； and people in general in the songs
that were sung or written in honour of the action； still ranked the
Aetolians foremost。 One of the pieces most current was the following
epigram：…
〃Naked and tombless see； O passer…by；
The thirty thousand men of Thessaly；
Slain by the Aetolians and the Latin band；
That came with Titus from Italia's land；
Alas for mighty Macedon！ that day；
Swift as a roe； King Philip fled away。〃
This was composed by Alcaeus in mockery of Philip； exaggerating the
number of the slain。 However； being everywhere repeated； and by almost
everybody； Titus was more nettled at it than Philip。 The latter merely
retorted upon Alcaeus with some elegiac verses of his own：…
〃Naked and leafless see； O passer…by；