35.31
.While
this war between the Achaeans and the tyrant was going on the Roman
envoys were visiting the cities of their allies, for they felt some apprehension
lest the Aetolians might have induced some of them to go over to Antiochus.
They did not trouble themselves much about the Achaeans; as they were in
declared hostility to Nabis it was thought that they might be depended upon
throughout. Athens was the first place they visited, from there they
proceeded to Chalcis, and thence to Thessaly, where they addressed a largely
attended council of the Thessalians. They then went on to Demetrias, where
a council of the Magnetes was assembled. Here they had to be careful as to
what they said, for some of the leading men were in opposition to Rome and
gave wholehearted support to Antiochus and the Aetolians. Their attitude
was due to the fact that when it was learnt that Philip's son, who had been
detained as a hostage, was released and the tribute imposed upon him
remitted, it was stated, amongst other false rumours, that the Romans
intended to restore Demetrias to him also. Rather than let that happen
Eurylochus, the president of the Magnetes, and some of his party were
anxious that the arrival of Antiochus and the Aetolians should bring about a
complete change of policy. In meeting this hostile spirit the Roman envoys
had to be on their guard lest while removing this groundless suspicion they
should so far destroy Philip's hopes as to make an enemy of a man who was
for every reason of more importance to them than the Magnetes were. The
envoys confined themselves to pointing out that the whole of Greece was
under obligations to Rome for the boon of liberty, Magnesia so especially.
Not only had a Macedonian garrison been stationed there, but Philip had
built a palace there so that they were forced to have their lord and master
always before their eyes. But all that Rome had done for them would be
useless if the Aetolians brought Antiochus into that palace and they had to
have a new unknown king in place of one whom they had known and had
experience of.
Their supreme magistrate was called "Magnetarch," and Eurylochus
was holding that office at the time. Feeling secure in the power which his
office gave him, he said that he and the Magnetes could not be silent about
the report which was widely current that Demetrias was to be given back to
Philip. To prevent this the Magnetes were prepared to make every effort and
face every danger. Carried away by excitement he threw out the ill-advised
remark that even then Demetrias was only free in appearance, in reality
everything was at the nod and beck of Rome. These words were received
with murmurs and protests; some in the assembly approved, but others were
filled with indignation at his having dared to speak in that way. As for
Quinctius, he was so angry that he lifted up his hands towards heaven and
called upon the gods to witness the ingratitude and perfidy of the Magnetes.
This exclamation created universal alarm and Zeno, one of their leading men,
who had gained great influence amongst them, partly by the refinement
which characterised his private life and partly because he had always been a
staunch friend to Rome, implored Quinctius and other envoys not to make
the whole city responsible for one man's madness; it was at his own risk that
anyone behaved like a madman. The Magnetes were indebted to Titus
Quinctius and the Roman people for more than their liberty -for everything,
in fact, which men hold dear and sacred; there was nothing which a man
could ask the gods to give him that they had not received from them. They
would sooner lay frenzied hands upon themselves than violate their
friendship with Rome.
