he should leave the decision of it to another season. That he ought especially to be careful, to preserve to himself the liberty of making war or peace with them, whenever he might think proper. should suffer the storm, which was

That in case he

gathering in the

west, to burst upon Greece, it was very much to be feared, that it would then be no longer in their power to take up arms, to treat of peace, nor to determine in their affairs according to their own sense, or the manner they might judge most expedient.

Nothing can be more judicious than this speech, which is a clear prediction of what was to happen af terwards to Greece, of which the Romans will soon render themselves absolute masters. This is the first time that the affairs of Italy and Africa influence those of Greece, and direct their motions. After this, neither Philip, nor the other powers of Greece, regulated their conduct, when they were to make peace or war, from the state of their respective countries, but directed all their views and attention towards Italy. The Asiatics, and the inhabitants of the islands, did the same soon after. All those who, from that time, had reason to be dissatisfied with the conduct of Philip or Attalus, no longer addressed Antiochus or Ptolemy for protection; they no longer turned their eyes to the south or east, but fixed them upon the west. Sometimes ambassadors were sent to the Carthaginians, and at other times to the Romans. Some also came to Philip, at different intervals, from the Romans, who, knowing the enterprising genius of that prince, were afraid he should come and add to

the confusion and perplexity of their affairs; which is what the sequel of this history is upon the point of shewing us.

SECTION IV.

PHILIP CONCLUDES A TREATY WITH HANNIBAL. THE ROMANS GAIN A CONSIDERABLE VICTORY OVER HIM.

> THE war between the Carthaginians and the Romans, who were the two greatest powers at that time, drew the attention of all the kings and nations in the world. Philip, king of Macedon, imagined that this affected him the more, as his dominions were separated from Italy only by the Adriatic sea, now called the gulph of Venice. When he heard, by the rumours which were spread, that Hannibal had marched over the Alps, he was indeed very well pleased to see the Romans and Carthaginians at war; but the success of it being doubtful, he did not perceive clearly enough, which of those powers it would be his interest to join. But after Hannibal had gained three victories successively, all his doubts were removed. He sent ambassadors to that general, but unhappily they fell into the hands of the Romans. They were carried to Valerius Levinus, the pretor, who was then encamped near Luceria. The principal of the ambassadors, Xenophanes by name, without being in the least disconcerted, answered with a resolute tone of voice, that he had been dispatched by Philip to conclude an alliance and friendship with the Romans; and A. M. 3788. Ant. J. C. 216.

2

Liv. 1. xxiii. n. 33, 34, et 38.

that he had orders to execute with the consuls, as well as the senate and people of Rome. Levinus, overjoyed to find, in this revolt of their ancient allies, so powerful a monarch desirous of making an alliance with the Romans, treated the ambassadors with all possible respect, and gave them a convoy for their safety. Being arrived in Campania, they escaped, and fled to Hannibal's camp, where they concluded a treaty, the purport of which was as follows; "That king Philip should cross into Italy with a fleet of two hundred sail, and lay waste the sea coasts; and should assist the Carthaginians both by sea and land. That the latter, at the conclusion of the war, should possess all Italy and Rome; and that Hannibal should have all the spoils. That after the conquest of Italy, they should cross into Greece, and there make war against any power the king should nominate; and that both the cities of the continent, and the islands lying towards Macedonia, should be enjoyed by Philip, and annexed to his dominion." Hannibal, on the other side, sent ambassadors to Philip, for his ratification of it; and they set out with those of Macedonia. I observed elsewhere, that in this treaty, the whole of which is preserved by Polybius, express mention is made of a great number of deities of the two nations, as present at this treaty; and witnesses to the oaths with which the ceremony was attended. Polybius omits a great number of particulars, which, according to Livy, were stipulated by this treaty.

The ambassadors, who set out together, were unhappily discovered and intercepted by the Romans.

Xenophanes's lie would not do him the same service as before. The Carthaginians were known by their air, their dress, and still more by their language. Upon them were found letters from Hannibal to Philip, and a copy of the treaty. The ambassadors were carried to Rome. The condition in which the affairs of the Romans, attacked so vigorously by Hannibal, then were; and their discovering a new enemy, so very powerful as Philip, must necessarily alarm them prodigiously. But it is on such occasions, that the Roman grandeur was chiefly conspicuous. For, without expressing the least perplexity or discouragement, they took all the measures necessary for carrying on this new war. Philip, informed of what had befallen his ambassadors, sent a second embassy to Hannibal, which was more successful than the former, and brought back the treaty. But these disappointments prevented their forming any enterprise that year, and still kept matters in suspense.

Philip was now wholly employed on his great design, of carrying the war into Italy. Demetrius of Pharos being with him, was continually urging him to that enterprise; not so much out of zeal for the interest of that prince, as out of hatred to the Romans, who had dispossessed him of his territories, which he thought it would be impossible for him to recover by any other means. It was by his counsel that he had concluded a peace with most of his enemies, in order that he might devote his whole care and attention to this war, the thoughts of which haunted him day and night; so that even in his dreams he spoke of nothing

Polyb. 1. v. p. 439, & 445-447.

but of war and battles with the Romans; and he would start from his sleep, in the highest agitation of mind, and covered with sweat. This prince, who was still young, was naturally lively and ardent in all his enter. prises. The success of his arms, the hopes Demetrius gave him, and the remembrance of the great actions of his predecessors, kindled an ardour in him, which increased daily.

During the winter season, he thought of manning fleet; not with a view of venturing a battle with the Romans, for this he was not in a condition to do, but to transport his forces into Italy with the greater expedition, and by that means surprise the enemies when they should least expect it. Accordingly he made the Illyrians build one hundred or one hundred and twenty vessels for him; and after having exercised his Macedonians for some time in the naval discipline, he put to sea. He first seized upon the city of Oricum, situate on the western coast of Epirus. Valerius, commander of the fleet that lay before Brundusium, having advice of it, set sail immediately with all the ships in readiness for sailing; retook, the next day, Oricum, in which Philip had but a slender garrison, and sent a large reinforcement to the aid of Apollonia, to which Philip had laid siege. Nevius, an able and experien ced officer, who commanded this reinforcement, hav ing landed his troops at the mouth of the river Aous, upon which Apollonia stands, marched through a bye way, and entered the city in the night, unperceived by the enemy. The Macedonians imagining they were