43.6
There
was a gathering of numerous deputations from Greece and Asia in Rome.
The Athenians were the first to obtain an audience. They explained that they
had sent to the consul and the praetor what ships and soldiers they had. They
had, however, made no use of them, but demanded 100,000 modii of corn.
Though the soil which they tilled was unproductive and even the cultivators
themselves had to be fed on corn from abroad, they had nevertheless made
up the amount that they should not fail in their duty, and they were prepared
to supply other things which might be required. The people of Miletus
mentioned that they had not furnished anything, but expressed their readiness
to carry out any orders the senate might wish to give with regard to the war.
The people of Alabanda stated that they had built a temple to "The City of
Rome" and had instituted annual Games in honour of that deity. They had
also brought a golden crown weighing fifty pounds to be placed in the
Capitol as an offering to Jupiter Optimus Maximus, and 300 cavalry shields
which they would hand over to whomsoever the senate might name. They
requested to be allowed to place the gift in the Capitol and to offer
sacrifices. The deputation from Lampsacus, who had brought a crown eighty
pounds in weight, made the same request. They explained that though they
had been under the rule of Perseus and of his father Philip before him, they
had revolted as soon as the Roman army appeared in Macedonia. In
consideration of this and of their having given all possible assistance to the
Roman commanders they made this one request that they might be admitted
amongst the friends of Rome and if peace were made with Perseus they
might be left out of the conditions so as not to fall again under the power of
the king. A gracious answer was vouchsafed to the other deputations; in the
case of the Lampsacans the praetor Q. Mucius was instructed to enrol them
amongst the allied States. Each of the delegates received a present of 2000
ases. The Alabandians were told to take the shields to A. Hostilius in
Macedonia.
Legates from Carthage and from Masinissa arrived simultaneously
in Rome. The Carthaginians reported that they had taken down to the coast
one million modii of wheat and half a million of barley, to be transported
wherever the senate should order. They knew, they said, that this gift, which
they regarded as a duty, was not adequate to the services which the Roman
people had rendered, nor was it what they would have wished to give, but on
other occasions, when both nations were in a prosperous condition, they had
fulfilled the duty of loyal and grateful allies. Masinissa's representatives
promised to furnish the same amount of wheat, 1200 cavalry and 12
elephants, and asked the senate to say if anything else was required, as he
would supply that just as readily as what he had voluntarily offered Thanks
were accorded to the Carthaginians and to the king, and they were asked to
forward the supplies they had promised to the consul Hostilius in
Macedonia. Each member of the legations received a gift of 2000 ases.
