32.23
On
being called upon to vote, the remaining Achaean States desired the
immediate conclusion of an alliance with Attalus and the Rhodians. As an
alliance with Rome could not be made without a resolution of the Roman
people the question was adjourned until envoys could be sent there.
Meantime it was decided that three representatives should be sent to L.
Quinctius and that the whole of the Achaean army should be brought up to
Corinth as Quinctius had already begun to attack the city, now that he had
taken Cenchreae. The Achaeans fixed their camp in the direction of the gate
which leads to Sicyon, the Romans on the other side of the city which looks
towards Cenetreae, Attalus brought his army through the Isthmus and
attacked the city on the side of Lechaeum, the port on the Gulf of Corinth.
At first the attack did not show much spirit, as hopes were entertained of
internal discord between the townsmen and Philip's garrison. When however
it was seen that all were at one in meeting the assault, the Macedonians as
energetic as though they were defending their native soil, the Corinthians
obeying the orders of Androsthenes, the commandant, as loyally as though
he were a fellow-citizen, placed in command by themselves, then the
assailants placed all their hopes in their arms and their siege-works. In spite
of the difficulties of approach, mounds were built up against the walls on all
side. On the side where the Romans were working, the battering-rams had
destroyed some part of the wall and the Macedonians came up in force to
defend the breach. A furious conflict began and the Romans were easily
driven out by the overwhelming numbers of the defenders. Then the
Achaeans and Attalus came up in support and made the contest a more equal
one. and it seemed pretty certain that they would not have much difficulty in
forcing the Macedonians and the Greeks to give way. There was a large
body of Italian deserters, consisting partly of those from Hannibal's army
who had entered Philip's service to escape punishment at the hands of the
Romans and partly of seamen who had left the fleet for the prospect of the
more respectable military life. These men, despairing of their lives in case the
Romans conquered, were inflamed with madness more than with courage.
Opposite Sicyon lies the promontory of Acraean Juno, as she is called, which
juts out into the sea; the distance across from Corinth is about seven miles.
To this point Philocles, one of the king's generals, brought a force of 1500
men through Boeotia. Vessels from Corinth were in readiness to carry this
detachment to Lechaeum. Attalus advised that the siege should be raised at
once and the siege-works burnt, but the Roman commander showed great
resolution and was for persisting in the attempt. When however he saw
Philip's troops strongly posted in front of all the gates and realised that it
would be difficult to withstand their attacks in case they made sorties, he fell
in with Attalus' view. The operation was accordingly abandoned and the
Achaeans were sent home. The rest of the troops re-embarked, Attalus sailed
for the Piraeus and the Romans for Corcyra.
