42.14
This
speech made a great impression on the House, but for the time no one
outside could learn anything beyond the fact of the king's presence in the
House, in such silence were the proceedings veiled. Only when the war was
over did what the king said and what the senate replied leak out. A few days
later the envoys of King Perseus were admitted to an audience. But the
minds, no less than the ears, of the senators had been captured by Eumenes,
and all that the Macedonian envoys alleged in justification or apology found
no hearing. The effrontery of Harpalus, the leader of the embassy, created
still more exasperation. He said that the king was anxious that when he
declared that he had neither said nor done anything of a hostile character, his
statement should be believed. If, however, he saw that they were obstinately
bent upon finding some excuse for war, he should depend upon himself with
resolution and courage; the chances of war were the same for both sides and
the issue was uncertain.
All the cities of Greece and Asia were much concerned about the
reception which Eumenes and the envoys of Perseus had met with in the
senate. Most of them on learning of the arrival in Rome of the man who, in
their opinion, would influence the Romans in the direction of war, sent
deputations, ostensibly to discuss other questions. One of these was from
Rhodes, and its leader had no doubt whatever that Eumenes had included his
city in the indictment against Perseus. Consequently he made every effort
through his friends and patrons to get an opportunity of meeting the king in
argument before the senate. As he did not succeed he denounced the king in
unmeasured invective, declaring that he had stirred up the Lycians against
the Rhodians and was much more oppressive to Asia than Antiochus had
ever been. This language pleased the populace whose sympathies were with
Perseus, but it was resented by the senate and did no good either to himself
or his fellow-countrymen The hostility shown towards Eumenes by the
different States made the Romans all the more determined to show him
favour; all honours were heaped upon him and most valuable gifts presented
to him, including a curule chair and an ivory sceptre.
