30.42
Then
the admission of the embassies from Philip and the Carthaginians was
discussed. It was decided that the Macedonians should be introduced first.
Their address dealt with various points. They began by disclaiming all
responsibility for the depredations on the friendly countries of which the
Roman envoys had complained to the king. Then they themselves brought
charges against the allies of Rome and a much more serious one against M.
Aurelius, one of the three envoys, who they said had stayed behind and after
raising a body of troops commenced hostilities against them in violation of
treaty rights, and fought several engagements with their commanders. They
ended with a demand that the Macedonians with their general Sopater who
had served as mercenaries under Hannibal and were then prisoners in chains
should be restored to them. In reply, M. Furius, who had been sent from
Macedonia by Aurelius to represent him, pointed out that Aurelius had
certainly been left behind, but it was for the purpose of preventing the allies
of Rome from being driven to secede to the king in consequence of the
injuries and depredations from which they were suffering. He had not
overstepped their frontiers; he had made it his business to see that no hordes
of plunderers crossed those frontiers with impunity. Sopater, who was one
of the purple-clad nobles who stood near the throne and was related to the
monarch, had recently been sent to Africa to assist Hannibal and Carthage
with money and also with a force of 4000 Macedonians.
On being questioned as to these matters the Macedonians gave
unsatisfactory and evasive replies, and consequently the answer they
received from the senate was anything but favourable. They were told that
their king was looking for war, and if he went on as he was doing, he would
very soon find it. He had been guilty of a twofold breach of treaty, for he had
committed wanton aggression on the allies of Rome by hostile arms and he
had also aided the enemies of Rome with men and money. Scipio was acting
rightly and legitimately in treating those taken in arms against Rome as
enemies and keeping them in chains. M. Aurelius also was acting in the
interests of the State -and the senate thanked him for it -when he afforded
armed protection to the allies of Rome since treaty rights were powerless for
their defence. With this stern reply the Macedonian envoys were dismissed.
Then the Carthaginians were called in. As soon as their age and rank were
recognised, for they were quite the foremost men in the State, the senators
remarked that now it was really a question of peace. Conspicuous amongst
them all was Hasdrubal, on whom his countrymen had bestowed the
sobriquet of "Haedus." He had always been an advocate of peace and an
opponent of the Barcine party. This gave his words additional weight when
he disavowed all responsibility for the war on behalf of his government and
fastened it on a few ambitious and grasping individuals.
His speech was discursive and eloquent. He repudiated some of the
charges, others he admitted lest unabashed denials of established facts might
lead to less consideration being shown. He warned the senators to use their
good fortune in a spirit of moderation and self-restraint. "If," he continued,
"the Carthaginians had listened to Hanno and myself and had been willing to
take advantage of their opportunity, they would have dictated the terms of
peace which now they are seeking from you. Seldom are good fortune and
good sense granted to men at the same time. What makes Rome invincible is
the fact that her people do not lose their sound judgment in the hour of
prosperity. And indeed it would be a matter for surprise were it otherwise,
for those to whom good fortune is a novelty go mad with unrestrained
delight because they are unused to it, but to you Romans the joy of victory is
a usual, I might almost say a commonplace experience. It is by clemency
towards the conquered more than by conquest itself that you have extended
your dominion." The others spoke in language more calculated to evoke
compassion. They reminded their audience of the powerful and influential
position from which Carthage had fallen. Those, they said, who lately held
almost the whole world subject to their arms had nothing now left to them
but their city walls. Confined within these they saw nothing on land or sea
which owned their sway. Even their city and their hearths and homes they
would only keep if the Roman people were willing to spare them; if not, they
lost everything. As it became evident that the senators were moved with
compassion, one of them, exasperated by the perfidy of the Carthaginians, is
said to have called out, "By what gods will you swear to observe the treaty,
since you have been false to those by whom you swore before?" "By the
same as before," Hasdrubal replied, "since they visit their wrath on those
who violate treaties."