44.25
Eumenes was not eager for Perseus to be
victorious, nor had he any intention of helping him in the war, not so much
because of the differences he had with his father as because of personal
aversion he and the son felt for each other. The jealousy of the two
monarchs was such that Eumenes would not have seen with complacency
Perseus winning such an accession of power and glory as would have
awaited him had he defeated the Romans. He knew also that from the very
beginning of the war Perseus had tried every means of gaining peace, and the
nearer the danger the more his actions and thoughts were, day and night,
turned to this object. As regarded the Romans, he believed that since the war
had dragged on longer than they expected, both their generals and the senate
would not be averse from bringing to a close such a tedious and difficult
war. Having thus discovered what both sides wished for, he was all the more
desirous of winning their good graces by offering for a consideration his
assistance towards securing what he believed would come about of itself
through the weariness of the stronger and the fears of the weaker side. He
fixed his price in the one case for not lending assistance to the Romans either
by land or sea, and in the other for mediating peace. For refusing assistance
he asked 1000 talents, for bringing about peace, 1500. Impelled by his fears
Perseus was very prompt in commencing negotiations and made no delay in
discussing the question of hostages; it was settled that those whom he
received should be sent to Crete. But when it came to the mention of money
he drew back and said that a money payment for another object would,
between monarchs of so great a name, be in any case sordid and unbecoming
both to him who made it and him who accepted it. Still in the hope of
obtaining peace with Rome he did not grudge the expense, though he would
only hand over the money when the transaction was completed; meanwhile
he would deposit it in the temple at Samothrace. As that island belonged to
Perseus, Eumenes saw that it made no difference whether it were there or at
Pella, and he proposed to carry away a portion at once. Thus after trying
unsuccessfully to trick each other they gained nothing but an evil name.