39.34
The
delegations left for their homes, and Philip was informed by his delegates
that he must withdraw his garrisons from the cities. Furious as he was with
everybody, he wreaked his vengeance on the Maronites. He sent instructions
to Onomastus, the governor of the coastal district, to put to death the
leaders of the party opposed to him. There was a certain Casander, one of
the king's courtiers, who had been living a considerable time in Maronea.
Through his agency a body of Thracians were admitted by night and a
general massacre followed as though the place had been taken by assault.
The Roman commissioners censured him for behaving so cruelly to the
unoffending Maronites and so defiantly towards the people of Rome; those
to whom the senate had guaranteed their liberty had been butchered as
though they were enemies. Philip said that neither he nor any of his people
were concerned in the matter; a domestic quarrel had broken out amongst
them, some wanting to bring the city over to him, others to Eumenes; the
commissioners could easily get at the facts by questioning the Maronites
themselves. He made this suggestion fully convinced that the Maronites had
been too much terrified by the recent bloodshed to open their mouths against
him. Appius replied that he should make no enquiry, as though there was any
doubt in his mind, the facts were quite clear. If Philip wished to remove all
suspicion, he must send those who were reported to have been his agents -Onomastus and Casander -to Rome, that the senate might examine them.
The king was so startled at this that the colour fled from his face. At last,
recovering his presence of mind, he promised that he would send Casander,
if they really wished it, as he had been at Maronea; but how, he asked, could
Onomastus be connected with the affair, seeing that he was not in Maronea
nor anywhere near it? He was anxious to keep Onomastus out of danger
because he valued him as a friend, and he was afraid of any evidence he
might give, for he had had frequent conversations with him and made him his
agent and confidant in many similar designs. As for Casander, it is believed
that to prevent him from giving any information, he was poisoned by
emissaries, who were sent direct through Epirus down to the sea
