40.16
Tears
and sobs prevented him from saying more. Philip ordered them to withdraw,
and after a short consultation with his friends gave his decision. He would
not, he said, base his judgment of their case upon what they had said, or
upon an hour's discussion, but upon an investigation into the life and
character of each and a close observation of their language and behaviour on
all occasions, important and unimportant alike. Everybody saw from this that
whilst the charges arising out of the last night's proceedings were easily
disposed of, Demetrius' excessive friendliness with the Romans had aroused
suspicion. These incidents which occurred during Philip's lifetime became, so
to speak, the seeds of the Macedonian war, which was fought mainly against
Philip.
Both the consuls left for Liguria, which was the only consular
province, and on account of their successes there thanksgivings were
ordered for one day. About 2000 Ligurians came to the extreme frontier of
Gaul where Marcellus was encamped, begging him to accept their surrender.
Marcellus told them to stay where they were and wait till he had
communicated with the senate. The senate instructed the praetor, M.
Ogulnius, to inform Marcellus by letter that the consuls whose province it
was were better able to decide than they were what course would be most in
the interests of the State. At the same time, if Marcellus accepted the
surrender of the Ligurians, the senate did not wish their arms to be taken
from them and thought it right that they should be sent to the consul. The
praetors took up their respective commands at the same time. P. Manlius
went to Further Spain, which he had administered in his former praetorship;
Q. Fulvius Flaccus proceeded to Hither Spain and took over the army from
A. Terentius, for owing to the death of P. Sempronius, Further Spain had
been without a magistrate. Whilst Fulvius Flaccus was besieging a Spanish
town called Urbicua he was attacked by the Celtiberians. Many fierce actions
took place, and there were severe losses in killed and wounded amongst the
Romans. No display of force could draw Fulvius away from the siege, and
his perseverance finally conquered. Exhausted by so many battles the
Celtiberi retired, and the city, now that assistance was withdrawn, was taken
in a few days and sacked. The praetor gave the booty to the soldiers. Beyond
this capture Fulvius did nothing worth recording, nor did P. Manlius, beyond
concentrating his scattered forces. They withdrew their armies into winter
quarters. Such was the record of that summer in Spain. Terentius, after
giving up his command there, entered the City in ovation. He brought home
9320 pounds of silver, 82 pounds of gold and seven golden crowns weighing
60 pounds.
