32.34
Stung
by Alexander's speech, Philip moved his ship nearer to the land in order that
he might be better heard, and commenced a speech mainly directed against
the Aetolians. He was, however, hotly interrupted at the outset by Phaeneas,
who exclaimed: "Matters are not to be settled by words. Either you must
conquer in war or you must obey those who are better than you." "That,"
replied Philip, "is obvious, even to a blind man" -a mocking allusion to
Phaeneas' defective vision. He was by nature more given to jesting than a
king ought to be, and even in the midst of serious business did not
sufficiently restrain his laughter. He went on to express his indignation at the
Aetolians ordering him, just as if they were Romans, to evacuate Greece,
when they could not tell within what boundaries Greece lies. Even in Aetolia
itself the Agraei, the Apodoti and the Amphilochi, who form a considerable
part of its population, are not included in Greece. "Have they," he continued,
"any right to complain of my not leaving their allies alone, when they
themselves keep up the ancient custom, as though it were a legal obligation,
of allowing their younger men to bear arms against their own allies, the
sanction of their government alone wanting? Thus it very frequently happens
that opposing armies have contingents drawn from Aetolia on both sides. As
to Cius, I did not actually storm it, but I lent assistance to Prusias, my ally
and friend, in his attack on the place. Lysimachia I claimed from the
Thracians, but as I had to give my whole attention to this war and was
unable to guard it, the Thracians still hold it.
So much for the Aetolians. With regard to Attalus and the
Rhodians, in strict justice I owe them nothing, for the war was started not by
me but by them. Still, to show my esteem for the Romans, I will restore
Peraea to the Rhodians and the. ships to Attalus with all the prisoners that
can be found. Touching the restoration of the Nicephorium and the temple of
Venus, what reply can I give to this demand further than to say that I will
undertake the care and expense of replanting -the only way in which woods
and groves that have been cut down can be restored -since such demands it
is the pleasure of kings to make and grant to each other?" The close of his
speech was a reply to the Achaeans. After enumerating the services rendered
to that nation, first by Antigonus and then by himself, he ordered the decrees
to be read, which they had passed in his favour, showering upon him all
honours human and divine, and then confronted them with the one they had
lately passed in which they resolved to break with him. Whilst bitterly
reproaching them for their faithlessness, he nevertheless promised to restore
Argos to them. The position of Corinth he should discuss with the Roman
general, and he should at the same time ask him whether he thought it fair
that he should renounce all claim to the cities which he had himself captured
and held by the rights of war, and even to those which he had inherited from
his ancestors.
