42.50
A few
days before this, after the return of his envoys had dashed his hopes of
peace, Perseus held a council of war. Opposing views led to considerable
discussion. Some thought that they ought to consent to pay an indemnity if it
was imposed upon them, or cede a portion of their territory if this were
insisted on; in fact, whatever sacrifice was necessary for the sake of peace
ought to be made, and no step taken which would expose the king and his
subjects to the hazard of fortune where such vital issues were involved. If he
were left in the certain possession of the crown, many things might happen in
the future which would enable him not only to recover what he had lost, but
even to become formidable to those of whom he now stood in fear. The
majority, however, were much more defiant. Any concessions made, they
declared, would involve the loss of the kingdom. The Romans were not in
need of money or territory, but this they knew, that while all human affairs
were liable to many accidents, kingdoms and empires were especially so.
They had shattered the power of the Carthaginians and saddled them with a
very powerful monarch to keep them down. They had sent Antiochus and his
posterity into banishment beyond the Taurus mountains. The kingdom of
Macedonia alone remained, a near neighbour and ready, whenever Rome lost
the good fortune she once enjoyed, to animate the kings of Macedonia with
their ancient courage. Whilst, therefore, his realm was still intact, Perseus
must decide between two alternatives. Either he must be prepared to strip
himself of all his power, by making one concession after another, and, driven
from his kingdom into exile, must beg the Romans to allow him Samothrace
or some other island, where, having outlived his kingship, he might grow old
in privacy, disgrace and poverty; or else vindicate his fortunes and his dignity
in arms, and confront as a brave man ought to do all that the chances of war
can bring, and if victorious, deliver the world from its subjection to Rome.
The expulsion of the Romans from Greece would not be a more wonderful
thing than the expulsion of Hannibal from Italy. They could not see how he
who had resisted his brother to the uttermost in his unlawful attempt to seize
the crown could with any consistency resign it to men of alien blood. The
question between peace and war can only arise so far as all are agreed that as
there is nothing more disgraceful than to surrender the throne without
striking a blow, so there is nothing more glorious than for a king to face all
risks in defence of his sovereign dignity and majesty.