were followed from the camp by the troops in phalanx called the Brazen
Shields； so that the whole plain seemed alive with the flashing of
steel and the glistening of brass； and the hills also with their
shouts； as they cheered each other on。 In this order they marched； and
with such boldness and speed； that those that were first slain died at
but two furlongs distance from the Roman camp。
The battle being begun； Aemilius came in and found that the foremost
of the Macedonians had already fixed the ends of their spears into the
shields of his Romans； so that it was impossible to come near them
with their swords。 When he saw this； and observed that the rest of the
Macedonians took the targets that hung on their left shoulders； and
brought them round before them； and all at once stooped their pikes
against their enemies' shields； and considered the great strength of
this wall of shields； and the formidable appearance of a front thus
bristling with arms； he was seized with amazement and alarm； nothing
he had ever seen before had been equal to it； and in aftertimes he
frequently used to speak both of the sight and of his own
sensations。 These； however； he dissembled； and rode through his army
without either breastplate or helmet； with a serene and cheerful
countenance。
On the contrary； as Polybius relates； no sooner was the battle
begun； but the Macedonian king basely withdrew to the city Pydna；
under a pretence of sacrificing to Hercules； a god that is not wont to
regard the faint offerings of cowards； or to fulfil unsanctioned vows。
For truly it can hardly be a thing that heaven would sanction； that he
that never shoots should carry away the prize； he triumph that
slinks from the battle； he that takes no pains meet with success； or
the wicked man prosper。 But to Aemilius's petitions the god
listened； he prayed for victory with his sword in his hand； and fought
while entreating divine assistance。
A certain Posidonius； who has at some length written a history of
Perseus； and professes to have lived at the time； and to have been
himself engaged in these events； denies that Perseus left the field
either through fear or pretence of sacrificing； but that； the very day
before the fight； he received a kick from a horse on his thigh； that
though very much disabled； and dissuaded by all his friends； he
commanded one of his riding…horses to be brought； and entered the
field unarmed； that amongst an infinite number of darts that flew
about on all sides； one of iron lighted on him； and though not with
the point； yet by a glance struck him with such force on his left side
that it tore his clothes and so bruised his flesh that the mark
remained a long time after。 This is what Posidonius says in defence of
Perseus。
The Romans not being able to make a breach in the phalanx； one
Salius； a commander of the Pelignians； snatched the ensign of his
company and threw it amongst the enemies； on seeing which； the
Pelignians （as amongst the Italians it is always thought the
greatest breach of honour to abandon a standard） rushed with great
violence towards the place； where the conflict grew very fierce and
the slaughter terrible on both sides。 For these endeavoured to cut the
spears asunder with their swords； or to beat them back with their
shields； or put them by with their hands； and； on the other side；
the Macedonians held their long sarissas in both hands； and pierced
those that came in their way quite through their armour； no shield
or corslet being able to resist the force of that weapon。 The
Pelignians and Marrucinians were thrown headlong to the ground； having
without consideration； with mere animal fury； rushed upon a certain
death。 Their first ranks being slain； those that were behind were
forced to give back； it cannot be said they fled； but they retreated
towards Mount Olocrus。 When； Aemilius saw this； Posidonius relates； he
rent his clothes； some of his men being ready to fly； and the rest not
willing to engage with a phalanx into which they could not hope to
make any entrance… a sort of palisade； as it were； impregnable and
unapproachable； with its close array of long spears everywhere meeting
the assailant。 Nevertheless； the unequalness of the ground would not
permit a widely extended front to be so exactly drawn up as to have
their shields everywhere joined； and Aemilius perceived that there
were a great many interstices and breaches in the Macedonian
phalanx； as it usually happens in all great armies； according to the
different efforts of the combatants； who in one part press forward
with eagerness； and in another are forced to fall back。 Taking；
therefore； this occasion； with all speed he broke up his men into
their cohorts； and gave them order to fall into the intervals and
openings of the enemy's body； and not to make one general attack
upon them all； but to engage； as they were divided； in several partial
battles。 These commands Aemilius gave to his captains； and they to
their soldiers； and no sooner had they entered the spaces and
separated their enemies； but they charged them； some on their sides
where they were naked and exposed； and others； making a circuit；
behind； and thus destroyed the force of the phalanx； which consists in
common action and close union。 And now； come to fight man to man； or
in small parties； the Macedonians smote in vain upon firm and long
shields with their little swords； whilst their slight bucklers were
not able to sustain the weight and force of the Roman swords； which
pierced through all their armour to their bodies； they turned； in
fine； and fled。
The conflict was obstinate。 And here Marcus； the son of Cato； and
son…in…law of Aemilius； whilst he showed all possible courage； let
fall his sword。 Being a young man carefully brought up and
disciplined； and； son of so renowned a father； bound to give proof
of more than ordinary virtue； he thought his life but a burden； should
he live and permit his enemies to enjoy this spoil。 He hurried
hither and thither； and wherever he espied a friend or companion；
declared his misfortune； and begged their assistance； a considerable
number of brave men being thus collected； with one accord they made
their way through their fellows after their leader； and fell upon
the enemy； whom after a sharp conflict； many wounds； and much
slaughter； they repulsed； possessed the place that was now deserted
and free； and set themselves to search for the sword； which at last
they found covered with a great heap of arms and dead bodies。
Overjoyed with this success； they raised the song of triumph； and；
with more eagerness than ever； charged the foes that yet remained firm
and unbroken。 In the end； three thousand of the chosen men； who kept
their ground and fought valiantly to the last； were all cut in pieces；
while the slaughter of such as fled was also very great。 The plain and
the lower part of the hills were filled with dead bodies； and the
water of the river Leucus； which the Romans did not pass till the next
day after the battle； was then mingled with blood。 For it is said
there fell more than twenty…five thousand of the enemy； of the Romans；
as Posidonius relates； a hundred； as Nasica； only fourscore。 This
battle； though so great； was very quickly decided； it being three in
the afternoon when they first engaged； and not four when the enemy was
vanquished； the rest of the day was spent in pursuit of the fugitives；
whom they followed about thirteen or fourteen miles； so that it was
far in the night when they returned。
All the others were met by their servants with torches； and
brought back with joy and great triumph to their tents； which were set
out with lights； and decked with wreaths of ivy and laurel。 But the
general himself was in great grief。 Of the two sons that served
under him in the war； the youngest was missing； whom he held most
dear； and whose courage and good qualities he perceived much to
excel those of his brothers。 Bold and eager for distinction； and still
a mere child in age； he concluded that he had perished； whilst for
want of experience he had engaged himself too far amongst his enemies。
His sorrow and fears became known to the army； the soldiers；
quitting their suppers； ran about with lights； some to Aemilius's
tent； some out of the trenches； to seek him amongst such as were slain
in the first onset。 There was nothing but grief in the camp； and the
plain was filled with the cries of men calling out for Scipio； for；
from his very youth； he was an object of admiration； endowed above any
of his equals with the good qualities requisite either for command
or counsel。 At length； when it was late； and they almost despaired； he
returned from the pursuit with only two or three of his companions all
covered with the fresh blood of his enemies； having been； like some
dog of noble breed； carried away by the pleasure； greater than he
could control； of his first victory。 This was that Scipio that
afterwards destroyed Carthage and Numantia； and was； without
dispute； the first of the Romans in merit； and had the greatest
authority amongst them。 Thus Fortune； deferring her displeasure and
jealousy of such great success to some other time； let Ae