42.29
When
P. Licinius and C. Cassius began their consulship, not only the City of Rome,
but all kings and commonwealths throughout Europe and Asia, were
preoccupied by the approaching war between Rome and Macedonia.
Eumenes had long regarded Macedonia as his enemy, and now he had a
fresh incentive to his hostility in his narrow escape from being slaughtered
like a victim at Delphi, through the king's foul treachery. Prusias, the king of
Bithynia, had decided to take no part in the conflict, but quietly to wait on
events. He felt sure that the Romans could not possibly think it right for him
to bear arms against his brother-in-law, and if Perseus were victorious he
knew that he could secure his favour through his sister. Ariarathes, king of
Cappadocia, had already promised to assist the Romans on his own account,
and now that he was connected by marriage with Eumenes, he associated
himself with all their policy, both in peace and war. Antiochus was
threatening Egypt, and in his contempt for the boy-king and his
unenterprising guardians he thought that, by raising the question of
Coelo-Syria, he would have a good pretext for war, and be able to prosecute
it without hindrance while the Romans were occupied with the Macedonian
war. He had, however, made all sorts of promises to the senate in view of
the war both by his own legations to Rome and personally to the envoys
whom the senate had sent to him. Owing to his age. Ptolemy was under
tutelage; his guardians were preparing for war with Antiochus to keep their
hold on Coelo-Syria, and were at the same time promising to give the
Romans all assistance in their war with Macedonia. Masinissa gave
assistance by supplying corn, and was preparing to send a force with
elephants and also his son, Misagenes, to the war. He had, however, laid his
plans to meet any turn of fortune; if victory fell to the Romans, matters
would remain as they were, nor could he make any further advance since the
Romans would not allow any aggression on the Carthaginians. If the power
of Rome -the sole protection of the Carthaginians -was broken, all Africa
would be his. Gentius, king of the Illyrians, had brought himself under
suspicion, but had not gone so far as to decide for certain which side he
should support; it seemed as though whichever he supported, it would be
more from impulse than policy. The Thracian Cotys, king of the Odrysae,
had already declared for Macedonia.
