36.33
As the
consul was starting for Naupactus, Philip asked him if he wished him to
recover the cities which had renounced their alliance with Rome. On
receiving the consul's consent he marched his army to Demetrias, as he was
fully aware of the confusion which prevailed there. The citizens were in
despair, they saw themselves deserted by Antiochus, with no prospect of
help from the Aetolians, and were daily expecting the arrival of their enemy
Philip, or of a more relentless enemy still, the Romans, who had more reason
to be angry with them. There was in the city a disorganised body of
Antiochus' soldiers, the small force which had been left to hold the city,
joined afterwards by the fugitives from the battle, who came in, most of
them, without arms. They had neither the strength nor the resolution to stand
a siege, and when emissaries from Philip held out to them hopes of obtaining
pardon they sent to him to say that the gates were open to the king. Some of
the principal men left the city as he entered it; Eurylochus committed suicide.
In accordance with the stipulation, the soldiers of Antiochus were sent
through Macedonia and Thrace to Lysimachia under the protection of a
Macedonian escort. There were also at Demetrias a few ships under the
command of Isodorus, they too were allowed to depart with their
commander. Philip then went on to reduce Dolopia, Aperantia, and some
cities in Perrhaebia.
