32.32
Winter
had now set in and T. Quinctius, after the capture of Elatea, had quartered
his troops in Phocis and Locris. Political dissensions broke out in Opus, the
one party summoned the Aetolians, who were the nearer, to their aid, the
other party called in the Romans. The Aetolians were the first to arrive on
the scene, but the other party, the wealthier and more influential one, refused
them admittance and after despatching a message to the Roman general held
the city pending his arrival. The citadel was garrisoned by Philip's troops and
neither the threats of the Opuntians nor the authoritative tone of the Roman
commander availed to turn them out. The place would have been attacked at
once had not a herald arrived from the king asking for a place and time to be
appointed for an interview. After considerable hesitation the request was
granted. Quinctius' reluctance was not due to his not wishing to have the
credit of bringing the war to a close by arms and by negotiations, for he did
not yet know whether one of the new consuls might not be sent out as his
successor or whether he would be continued in his command, a decision
which he had charged his friends and relations to do their utmost to secure.
He thought, however, that a conference would suit his purpose and leave
him at liberty to turn it in favour of war if he remained in command, or of
peace if he had to leave.
They selected a spot on the shore of the Maliac Gulf near Nicaea.
The king proceeded thither from Demetrias in a war-vessel escorted by five
swift barques. He was accompanied by some of the Macedonian magnates
and also by a distinguished Aetolian refugee, named Cycliadas. With the
Roman commander were King Amynander. Dionysodorus, one of Attalus'
staff, Agesimbrotus, commandant of the Rhodian fleet, Phaeneas, the chief
magistrate of the Aetolians, and two Achaeans, Aristaenus and Xenophon.
Surrounded by this group of notables the Roman general advanced to the
edge of the beach, and on the king coming forward to the head of his ship,
which was lying at anchor, he called out to him, "If you would step ashore
we should both address and hear one another more comfortably." The king
refused to do this, on which Quinctius asked, "What on earth are you afraid
of ? "In a proud and kingly tone Philip replied, "I fear no one but the
immortal gods; but I do not trust all those I see about, and least of all the
Aetolians." "That," answered Quinctius, "is a danger to which all who go
into conference with an enemy are equally exposed, if, that is, no faith is
kept." "Yes, T. Quinctius," was Philip's rejoinder "but the rewards of
treachery, should any be meditated, are not the same for both sides; Philip
and Phaeneas are not equal in value. The Aetolians would not find it so
difficult to substitute another magistrate, as the Macedonians would to
replace their king." After this no more was said.
