31.47
The
autumnal equinox was now at hand, and the straits of Euboea, which are
called Coela, are considered dangerous to navigation. As they were anxious
to get away before the winter storms began, the fleets sailed back to the
Piraeus, their starting-point for the war. Leaving thirty ships there Apustius
sailed with the remainder past Malea to Corcyra. Atticus was detained by the
celebration of the Eleusinian Mysteries at which he wished to be present, and
when they were over he withdrew into Asia after sending Agesimbrotus and
the Rhodians home. Such were the operations against Philip and his allies
conducted by the Roman consul and his lieutenant with the assistance of
King Attalus and the Rhodians. When the other consul, C. Aurelius, came
into his province he found the war brought to a close, and he did not conceal
his chagrin at the praetor's activity in his absence. He sent him into Etruria
and then took his legions into the enemy's country to plunder it: an
expedition from which he returned with more booty than glory. L. Furius,
finding no scope for his activity in Etruria, and bent upon obtaining a
triumph for his victories in Gaul, which he thought he might more easily do
while the angry and jealous consul was out of the way, suddenly returned to
Rome and convened a meeting of the senate in the temple of Bellona. After
giving a report of what he had done, he asked to be allowed to enter the City
in triumph.
