32.16
Just
about the time when the consul began his campaign against Philip by fixing
his camp in the pass leading from Epirus, his brother L. Quinctius, to whom
the senate had entrusted the charge of the fleet and the command of the
coast-line, sailed to Corcyra with two quinqueremes. When he heard that the
fleet had left, he decided to lose no time and followed it up to the island of
Zama. Here he sent back Lucius Apustius, whom he had succeeded, and
went on to Malea. The voyage was a slow one, the vessels which were
accompanying him, laden with provisions, having mostly to be taken in tow.
From Malea he proceeded with three swift quinqueremes to the Piraeus,
leaving orders for the rest of the fleet to follow him as quickly as they could,
and here he took over the ships which had been left by L. Apustius for the
protection of Athens. At the same time two fleets sailed from Asia, one of
twenty-three quinqueremes with Attalus, the other a Rhodian fleet of twenty
decked ships, under Agesimbrotus. These fleets united off Andros and from
there sailed to Euboea, which is only separated by a narrow strait. They
began by laving waste the fields of the Carystians, but when Carystus was
strengthened by reinforcements which were hurried up they sailed away to
Eretria. On hearing that Attalus had arrived there, L. Quinctius proceeded
thither with the squadron in the Piraeus after leaving orders for the rest of his
fleet as they arrived to sail for Euboea.
A very fierce attack on Eretria now commenced. The vessels in the
three fleets carried all kinds of siege engines and artillery, and the country
around afforded an abundant supply of timber for the construction of fresh
works. At first the townsmen defended themselves with considerable energy,
but they gradually became worn out and many were wounded, and when
they saw a portion of the walls levelled by the enemy's machines, they began
to think about surrendering. But the garrison consisted of Macedonians and
the townsmen were as much afraid of these as they were of the Romans.
Philocles, Philip's lieutenant, also sent word that he would come to their
assistance in time if they would hold out. Thus their hopes and fears
constrained them to lengthen out the time beyond either their wishes or their
strength. At last they heard that Philocles had been defeated and was in hasty
flight to Chalcis, and they at once sent spokesmen to Attalus to ask for
mercy and protection. Hoping for peace they slackened their defence and
contented themselves with guarding that part where the wall had been
levelled. Quinctius, however, delivered an assault by night in the quarter
where they least expected it and captured the city. The whole of the
townsmen with their wives and children took refuge in the citadel and finally
surrendered. There was not much gold and silver, but the statues and
pictures by old-time artists and similar objects were discovered in greater
quantities than might have been expected from the size and wealth of the
city.
