37.1
After the new consuls
had taken office and the obligations of religion had been discharged the
position of the Aetolians took precedence of all other subjects of discussion
in the senate. Their envoys pressed for an audience as the period of the
armistice was drawing to a close, and they were backed up by T. Quinctius,
who had by that time returned to Rome. Knowing that they had more to
hope from the clemency of the senate than from the strength of their case,
they adopted a suppliant attitude and brought up their former good services
as a counterpoise to their recent misdoings. However, while in the House,
they were subjected to a fire of questions from all sides, the senators
endeavouring to force from them a confession of guilt rather than definite
replies, and after they were ordered to withdraw they gave rise to a very
lively debate. The feeling of resentment against them was stronger than that
of compassion, for the senate were embittered against them not only as
enemies, but as a wild race whose hand was against every man. The debate
went on for several days, and it was finally decided that peace should neither
be granted to them nor refused. They were offered two alternatives: either to
place themselves unreservedly in the hands of the senate or to pay a fine of
1000 talents and have the same friends and enemies as Rome. When they
endeavoured to get some idea of the matters in regard to which they were to
be at the senate's disposal they got no definite reply. The same day they were
sent away from the City without having obtained peace and were ordered to
leave Italy within the fortnight.
Then the question of the consular provinces came up. Both the
consuls wanted Greece. Laelius possessed great influence in the senate, and
when it was decided that the consul should either ballot or come to a mutual
agreement about their provinces he observed that he and his colleague would
act more gracefully if they left the matter to the judgment of the senate
rather than to the chances of the ballot. Scipio said in reply that he should
consider what he ought to do, and after a private conversation with his
brother, who insisted upon his leaving the matter in the hands of the senate,
he told his colleague that he would do what he advised. This method of
procedure as being either unprecedented or resting on precedents of which
no record survived was expected to lead to a debate, but P. Scipio Africanus
declared that if the senate decreed Greece to his brother Lucius he would
serve under him. This declaration met with universal approval and put an end
to any further discussion. The senate were glad of the opportunity of finding
out which would receive most help -Antiochus from the vanquished
Hannibal or the consul and legions of Rome from his vanquisher Scipio, and
they almost unanimously decreed Greece to Scipio and Italy to Laelius.
