42.49
It was
now that the consul, P. Licinius, after offering up the prayers in the Capitol,
rode out of the City wearing the paludamentum. This departure of the
commander-in-chief was always invested with dignity and grandeur, but now
especially all eyes and hearts were turned to the consul as they escorted him
on his way to meet a powerful enemy whose reputation for courage and
success was spread far and wide. It was not only to honour their chief
magistrate that the citizens had collected together, but also to see the leader
to whose wisdom and authority they had entrusted the supreme defence of
the commonwealth. They thought of the chances of war, the caprice of
Fortune, the risks and uncertainty of battle the defeats and successes of the
past -defeats often incurred by the ignorance and rashness of commanders,
successes again won by skill and courage. Who of mortal men could know
the capability of the consul whom they were sending to war or the fortune
which would attend him? Would they presently see him with his victorious
army going up to the Capitol in triumphal procession to do homage to those
deities from whom he is now departing, or are those deities going to allow
that happiness to the enemy? The enemy, again, whom he was going to meet
was the far-famed Perseus, the king of the Macedonians, a nation
distinguished in war, and the son of Philip, who amongst his many victories
had even in the war with Rome added to his reputation. Ever since he
ascended the throne, the name of Perseus was continually on men's lips as
they spoke of the coming war. With these thoughts in their minds men of all
sorts and conditions attended the departure of the consul. C. Claudius and
Q. Mucius, ex-consuls and now military tribunes, were sent with him, and
three young nobles, P. Lentulus, and the two Acidini, one the son of Marcus
and the other the son of Lucius Manlius. The consul joined his army at
Brundisium and sailing with his whole force to Nymphaeum fixed his camp
in the neighbourhood of Apollonia.
