42.26
During
the year the consuls did nothing worth recording, the interests of the republic
seemed to be best served by quieting the exasperated Ligurians. Whilst war
with Macedonia was anticipated, Gentius, King of the Illyrians, also fell
under suspicion. Envoys from Issus laid complaints before the senate about
his ravaging their borders and asserted that he and Perseus were living on the
most perfect understanding with each other and were planning war with
Rome in close co-operation. Illyrian spies had been sent to Rome at the
instigation of Perseus, ostensibly as envoys, really to find out what was
going on. The Illyrians were summoned before the senate. They said, that
they had been sent by the king to clear him of any charges which the Issaeans
might bring against him. They were then asked why in that case they had not
reported themselves to the proper magistrates so that they might be assigned
furnished quarters and their arrival and the object of their coming might be
publicly known. As they were at a loss for a reply, they were told to leave
the senate-house, and it was agreed that no reply should be made to them as
envoys, since they had made no formal request to appear before the senate.
It was resolved that envoys should be sent to Gentius to inform him of the
complaints made against him and to make him understand that the senate
regarded him as acting wrongfully in not abstaining from injuring his
neighbours. The envoys were A. Terentius Varro, C. Plaetorius, and C.
Cicereius. The commissioners who had been sent to interview the friendly
monarchs returned from Asia and reported that they had visited Eumenes,
Antiochus in Syria, and Ptolemy at Alexandria; that they had all been
approached by Perseus, but were keeping perfectly true to their engagements
with Rome, and they pledged themselves to carry out all that the people of
Rome required. They had also visited the friendly cities and with one
exception they were satisfied as to their fidelity. The one exception was
Rhodes, where they found the citizens wavering and imbued by Perseus'
ideas. A deputation had arrived from Rhodes to clear the citizens from
charges which they knew were being generally made against them; the
senate, however, decided not to grant them an audience till the new consuls
had entered upon office.
