39.28
Philip
took a very different course in his reply from that which he adopted towards
the Thessalians and Perrhaebians. "My contention," he began, "is not with
the Maronites or with Eumenes, but with you, Romans. I have for some time
perceived that I shall get no fair treatment from you. I thought it just and
right that the cities of the Macedonians which revolted from me during the
suspension of hostilities should be restored to me; not that these would have
been a great addition to my kingdom, for they are small places situated on
the extreme frontiers, but because such an example would have gone far to
restrain the rest of the Macedonians. This has been refused me. During the
Aetolian war I was instructed by Manius Acilius to attack Lamia, and when
after long and weary siege operations and fighting I was at last surmounting
the walls, and the city was all but taken, the consul recalled me, and
compelled me to draw off my troops. As some consolation for this injustice,
I was allowed to seize some places in Thessaly, Perrhaebia and Athamania -forts rather than cities. Those very places you, Q. Caecilius, took from me a
few days ago.
"The envoys of Eumenes actually assumed just now, as a matter
beyond doubt, that it would be more equitable for Eumenes to hold the
places which belonged to Antiochus, than that I should do so. I take a very
different view. Unless the Romans had -I will not say conquered, but even -undertaken that war, Eumenes could not have remained on his throne. So it
is he who is indebted to you, not you to him. So far was any part of my
kingdom from being in danger, that when Antiochus sought to purchase my
support by the promise of 3000 talents, 50 decked ships, and all the cities of
Greece which he had previously held, I rejected his offer and declared myself
his enemy even before Manius Acilius landed his army in Greece. In concert
with him I took whatever part in the war he assigned to me, and when his
successor, Lucius Scipio, decided to take his army to the Hellespont
overland, I not only allowed him a free passage through my dominions, but I
constructed roads, built bridges and furnished supplies, and this not through
Macedonia only, but through Thrace as well, where amongst other things
peace had to be secured from the barbarians. In return for this proof of my
goodwill towards you -I will not call it meritorious service -what is the
right thing to do, Romans: to augment and amplify my kingdom by your
generosity, or to rob me as you are now doing of what I hold, whether by
my own right or by your liberality? The Macedonian cities which, you admit,
formed part of my dominions are not restored. Eumenes has come here to
despoil me as though I were Antiochus, and actually has the impudence to
put forward the decision of the ten commissioners as a cloak for his
dishonest intrigues; the very decision by which he can be most effectually
confuted. It is quite clearly stated there that the Chersonese and Lysimachia
are given to Eumenes. Where, pray, are Aenus and Maronea and the cities of
Thrace mentioned ? Is he going to get from you what he did not dare to ask
from them, as though they had granted it? It is a matter of some importance
to me in what light you regard me. If you have made up your minds to
persecute me as an enemy, go on as you have begun; but if you have any
feeling of regard for me as a royal friend and ally, do not judge me deserving
of so great an injustice."
