37.55
After
the Rhodians the envoys from Antiochus were called in. They took the usual
line of those who ask for pardon, and, after acknowledging that the king was
in the wrong, implored the senators to let their decision be guided more by
their own clemency than by the fault of the king, for he had suffered
punishment enough, and more than enough. They concluded by begging the
senate to confirm by their authority the peace granted by L. Scipio on the
terms which he had imposed. The senate decided that this peace should
stand, and a few days later it was ratified by order of the Assembly. The
formal treaty was concluded in the Capitol with Antipater, the son of the
king's brother, who was the head of the delegation. After this, audience was
given to other deputations from Asia. They all received the same reply,
namely that the senate, in accordance with ancient usage, would send ten
commissioners to investigate and settle affairs in Asia. The main provisions
of the settlement, however, would be these: All the territory on this side the
Taurus, which had been included within the limits of Antiochus' kingdom,
would be assigned to Eumenes, with the exception of Lycia and Caria, as far
as the Maeander; these were to be annexed to the republic of Rhodes. Of the
other cities in Asia, those which had been tributary to Attalus were to pay
their taxes to Eumenes, those which had paid tax to Antiochus were to be
free from all taxation to a foreign power. The ten commissioners were: Q.
Minucius Rufus, L. Furius Purpurio, Q. Minucius Thermus, Ap. Claudius
Nero, Cneius Cornelius Merula, M. Junius Brutus, L. Aurunculeius, L.
Aemilius Paulus, P. Cornelius Lentulus and P. Aelius Tubero.
