are not collected by little and little （as must necessarily be； if
they had their being at the very instant the earth was opened）； but
break out at once with violence； and upon the cutting through a
rock； there often gush out great quantities of water； which then as
suddenly cease。 But of this enough。
Aemilius lay still for some days； and it is said that there were
never two great armies so nigh that enjoyed so much quiet。 When he had
tried and considered all things； he was informed that there was yet
one passage left unguarded； through Perrhaebia by the temple of Apollo
and the Rock。 Gathering； therefore； more hope from the place being
left defenceless than fear from the roughness and difficulty of the
passage； he proposed it for consultation。 Amongst those that were
present at the council； Scipio； surnamed Nasica； son…in…law to
Scipio Africanus； who afterwards was so powerful in the
senate…house； was the first that offered himself to command those that
should be sent to encompass the enemy。 Next to him； Fabius Maximus；
eldest son of Aemilius； although yet very young； offered himself
with great zeal。 Aemilius； rejoicing； gave them； not so many as
Polybius states； but； as Nasica himself tells us in a brief letter
which he wrote to one of the kings with an account of the
expedition； three thousand Italians that were not Romans； and his left
wing consisting of five thousand。 Taking with him； besides these；
one hundred and twenty horsemen； and two hundred Thracians and Cretans
intermixed that Harpalus had sent； he began his journey towards the
sea； and encamped near the temple of Hercules； as if he designed to
embark； and so to sail round and environ the enemy。 But when the
soldiers had supped and it was dark； he made the captains acquainted
with his real intentions； and marching all night in the opposite
directions away from the sea； till he came under the temple of Apollo；
there rested his army。 At this place Mount Olympus rises in height
more than ten furlongs； as appears by the epigram made by the man that
measured it：…
〃The summit of Olympus； at the site
Where stands Apollo's temple； has a height
Of full ten furlongs by the line； and more；
Ten furlongs； and one hundred feet； less four。
Eumelus's son； Xenagoras； reached the place。
Adieu； O king； and do thy pilgrim grace。〃
It is allowed； say the geometricians； that no mountain in height
or sea in depth exceeds ten furlongs； and yet it seems probable that
Xenagoras did not take his admeasurement carelessly； but according
to the rules of art； and with instruments for the purpose。 Here it was
that Nasica passed the night。
A Cretan deserted； who fled to the enemy during the march；
discovered to Perseus the design which the Romans had to encompass
him： for he； seeing that Aemilius lay still； had not suspected any
such attempt。 He was startled at the news； yet did not put his army in
motion； but sent ten thousand mercenary soldiers； and two thousand
Macedonians； under command of Milo； with order to hasten and possess
themselves of the passes。 Polybius relates that the Romans found these
men asleep when they attacked them； but Nasica says there was a
sharp and severe conflict on the top of the mountain； that he
himself encountered a mercenary Thracian； pierced him through with his
javelin； and slew him； and that the enemy being forced to retreat；
Milo stripped to his coat and fled shamefully without his armour；
while he followed without danger； and conveyed the whole army down
into the country。
After this event； Perseus； now grown fearful； and fallen from his
hopes； removed his camp in all haste； he was under the necessity
either to stop before Pydna； and there run the hazard of a battle；
or disperse his army into cities； and there expect the event of the
war； which； having once made its way into his country； could not be
driven out without great slaughter and bloodshed。 But Perseus； being
told by his friends that he was much superior in number； and that
men fighting in the defence of their wives and children must needs
feel all the more courage； especially when all was done in the sight
of their king； who himself was engaged in equal danger； was thus again
encouraged； and； pitching his camp； prepared himself to fight；
viewed the country； and gave out the commands； as if he designed to
set upon the Romans as soon as they approached。 The place was a
field fit for the action of a phalanx； which requires smooth
standing and even ground； and also had divers little hills； one
joining another； fit for the motions whether in retreat or advance
of light troops and skirmishers。 Through the middle ran the rivers
Aeson and Leucus； which though not very deep； it being the latter
end of summer； yet were likely enough to give the Romans some trouble。
As soon as Aemilius had rejoined Nasica； he advanced in battle array
against the enemy； but when he found how they were drawn up； and the
number of their forces； he regarded them with admiration and surprise；
and halted； considering within himself。 The young commanders； eager to
fight； riding along by his side； pressed him not to delay； and most of
all Nasica； flushed with his late success on Olympus。 To whom Aemilius
answered with a smile： 〃So would I do were I of your age； but many
victories have taught me the ways in which men are defeated； and
forbid me to engage soldiers weary with a long march against an army
drawn up and prepared for battle。〃
Then he gave command that the front of his army； and such as were in
sight of the enemy； should form as if ready to engage； and those in
the rear should cast up the trenches and fortify the camp； so that the
hindmost in succession wheeling off by degrees and withdrawing；
their whole order was insensibly broken up； and the army encamped
without noise or trouble。
When it was night； and； supper being over； all were turning to sleep
and rest； on a sudden the moon； which was then at full and high in the
heavens； grew dark； and by degrees losing her light； passed through
various colours； and at length was totally eclipsed。 The Romans；
according to their custom； clattering brass pans and lifting up
fire…brands and torches into the air； invoked the return of her light；
the Macedonians behaved far otherwise： terror and amazement seized
their whole army； and a rumour crept by degrees into their camp that
this eclipse portended even that of their king。 Aemilius was no novice
in these things； nor was ignorant of the nature of the seeming
irregularities of eclipses… that in a certain revolution of time；
the moon in her course enters the shadow of the earth and is there
obscured； till； passing the region of darkness； she is again
enlightened by the sun。 Yet being a devout man； a religious observer
of sacrifices and the art of divination； as soon as he perceived the
moon beginning to regain her former lustre； he offered up to her
eleven heifers。 At the break of day he sacrificed as many as twenty in
succession to Hercules； without any token that his offering was
accepted； but at the one…and…twentieth； the signs promised victory
to defenders。 He then vowed a hecatomb and solemn sports to
Hercules； and commanded his captains to make ready for battle； staying
only till the sun should decline and come round to the west； lest；
being in their faces in the morning； it should dazzle the eyes of
his soldiers。 Thus he whiled away the time in his tent； which was open
towards the plain where his enemies were encamped。
When it grew towards evening； some tell us； Aemilius himself used
a stratagem to induce the enemy to begin the fight； that he turned
loose a horse without a bridle； and sent some of the Romans to catch
him； upon whose following the beast the battle began。 Others relate
that the Thracians； under the command of one Alexander； set upon the
Roman beasts of burden that were bringing forage to the camp； that
to oppose these； a party of seven hundred Ligurians were immediately
detached； and that； relief coming still from both armies； the main
bodies at last engaged。 Aemilius； like a wise pilot； foreseeing by the
present waves and motion of the armies the greatness of the
following storm； came out of his tent； went through the legions； and
encouraged his soldiers。 Nasica； in the meantime； who had ridden out
to the skirmishers； saw the whole force of the enemy on the point of
engaging。 First marched the Thracians； who； he himself tells us；
inspired him with most terror； they were of great stature； with bright
and glittering shields and black frocks under them； their legs armed
with greaves； and they brandished； as they moved； straight and
heavily…ironed spears over their right shoulders。 Next the Thracians
marched the mercenary soldiers； armed after different fashions； with
these Paeonians were mingled。 These were succeeded by a third
division； of picked men； native Macedonians； the choicest for
courage and strength； in the prime of life； gleaming with gilt
armour and scarlet coats。 As these were taking their places they
were followed from the camp by the troops in phalanx called the Brazen
Shields； so that the whole plain seemed