45.5
Meantime the fleet under Cn. Octavius had
put in at Samothrace. Octavius thought that the presence of the fleet would
intimidate Perseus, and he tried to induce him to surrender by appealing to
his hopes and fears. An incident brought about either by accident or design
assisted his efforts. A young man of distinction, L. Atilius, noticed that the
people of Samothrace were holding an assembly, and he requested the
magistrates to allow him to address a few words to the people. Permission
being granted, he began: "My friends and hosts of Samothrace, is it true or
false what we have heard, that this is a consecrated island and that its soil is
everywhere sacred and inviolable?" There was a unanimous response in the
affirmative, and he went on: "Why, then, is it polluted and violated by a
murderer stained with the blood of King Eumenes? And whilst all approach
to your sacred shrines is forbidden to those who do not come with clean
hands before commencing any holy rite, will you allow them to be
contaminated by the presence of a blood-stained assassin?" It was well
known through all the cities of Greece that the murder of Eumenes at Delphi
had been attempted and all but effected by Euander. They were aware that
the temple and the whole of the island lay at the mercy of the Romans, and
they felt, too, that they deserved the reproach. Theondas, their chief
magistrate -they give him the title of "king" -was accordingly sent to
Perseus to inform him that Euander was accused of murder and that courts
were established after the manner of their ancestors to try those who were
alleged to have entered the sacred boundaries with unholy hands. If Euander
felt sure that he would be proved innocent of any capital crime let him
appear to defend himself, but if he did not dare to stand his trial, let him
deliver the temple from a curse end take measures for his personal safety.
Perseus called Euander aside and advised him on no account to undergo a
trial; he was no match for his accusers, either on the merits of the case or in
the influence which he possessed. He was haunted by the fear that if Euander
were found guilty he would bring him in as the instigator of that infamous
crime. What was left for him to do but to die bravely? Euander raised no
objection openly, but after saying that he would rather die by poison than by
the sword, he made preparations for secret flight. On this coming to the
king's ears he was afraid that Euander, by escaping punishment, might bring
down the wrath of the Samothracians upon himself under the belief that he
had connived at his escape. He therefore gave orders for Euander to be put
to death. After the reckless perpetration of this murder he suddenly reflected
that he had beyond any doubt brought upon himself the blood-guiltiness
which had previously rested on Euander. Eumenes had been wounded by
Euander in Delphi, and now he himself had put Euander to death in
Samothrace. Thus he alone was responsible for the profanation of the two
holiest temples in the world by human blood. He averted this terrible charge
by bribing Theondas and inducing him to announce to the people that
Euander had taken his own life.