42.36
During
this time envoys from Perseus arrived. It was decided that they should not be
allowed to enter the town, as the senate and people had already determined
on war with their king and the Macedonians. They were admitted to an
audience in the temple of Bellona, and told the senate that Perseus was
wondering why the armies had been sent to Macedonia. If he could induce
the senate to recall them, he would give such satisfaction as the senate
thought fit for any wrongs of which the allies of Rome complained. Spurius
Carvilius had been sent back from Greece by Cnaeus Sicinius on this same
business and was present at this session. He informed the senate how
Perrhaebia had been taken by storm and other cities of Thessaly captured,
and also what the king was actually doing and what preparations he was
making. The envoys were told to answer these charges; they hesitated and
said they had not received any further instructions. On thus they were
ordered to carry back to their king the announcement that in a short time the
consul P. Licinius would be in Macedonia with his army; if the king really
meant to give satisfaction, he might send envoys to him. It was useless for
him to send any to Rome, as none of them would be allowed to pass through
Italy. With this reply they were sent away, and P. Licinius was instructed to
order them to quit Italy within ten days and send Sp. Carvilius to watch them
till they went on board. Cnaeus Sicinius, who before quitting office had been
sent to the fleet and army at Brundisium, had landed 5000 infantry and 300
cavalry in Epirus and was now encamped at Nymphaeum in the Apollonian
district. From there he sent tribunes with 2000 men to occupy the forts of
the Dassaretii and the Illyrians, as the people themselves were asking for
troops to hold them so that they might be more secure against any attack
from their Macedonian neighbours.
