jealousy of such great success to some other time； let Aemilius at
present enjoy this victory； without any detraction or diminution。
As for Perseus； from Pydna he fled to Pella with his cavalry；
which was as yet almost entire。 But when the foot came up with them；
and； upbraiding them as cowards and traitors； tried to pull them off
their horses； and fell to blows； Perseus； fearing the tumult；
forsook the common road； and； lest he should be known； pulled off
his purple； and carried it before him； and took his crown in his
hand and； that he might the better converse with his friends； alighted
from his horse and led him。 Of those that were about him； one stopped；
pretending to tie his shoe that was loose； another to water his horse；
a third to drink himself； and thus lagging behind； by degrees left
him； they having not so much reason to fear their enemies as his
cruelty； for he； disordered by his misfortune； sought to clear himself
by laying the cause of the overthrow upon everybody else。 He arrived
at Pella in the night； where Euctus and Eudaeus； two of his
treasurers； came to him； and； what with their reflecting on his former
faults； and their free and ill…timed admonitions and counsels； so
exasperated him； that he killed them both； stabbing them with his
own dagger。 After this； nobody stuck to him but Evander the Cretan；
Archedemus the Aetolian； and Neon the Boeotian。 Of the common soldiers
there followed him only those from Crete； not out of any good…will；
but because they were as constant to his riches as the bees to their
hive。 For he carried a great treasure with him； out of which he had
suffered them to take cups； bowls； and other vessels of silver and
gold； to the value of fifty talents。 But when he was come to
Amphipolis； and afterwards to Galepsus； and his fears were a little
abated； he relapsed into his old and constitutional disease of
covetousness； and lamented to his friends that he had； through
inadvertency； allowed some gold plate which had belonged to
Alexander the Great to go into the hands of the Cretans； and
besought those that had it； with tears in his eyes； to exchange with
him again for money。 Those that understood him thoroughly knew very
well that he only played the Cretan with the Cretans； but those that
believed him； and restored what they had； were cheated； as he not only
did not pay the money； but by craft got thirty talents more of his
friends into his hands （which in a short time after fell to the
enemy）； and with them sailed to Samothrace； and there fled to the
temple of Castor and Pollux for refuge。
The Macedonians were always accounted great lovers of their kings；
but now； as if their chief prop was broken； they all gave way
together； and submitted to Aemilius； and in two days made him master
of their whole country。 This seems to confirm the opinion which
ascribes whatever he did to good fortune。 The omen； also； that
happened at Amphipolis has a supernatural character。 When he was。
sacrificing there； and the holy rites were just begun； on a sudden；
lightning fell upon the altar； set the wood on fire； and completed the
immolation of the sacrifice。 The most signal manifestation； however；
of preternatural agency appears in the story of the rumour of his
success。 For on the fourth day after Perseus was vanquished at
Pydna； whilst the people at Rome were seeing the horse…races； a report
suddenly rose at the entrance of the theatre that Aemilius had
defeated Perseus in a great battle； and was reducing all Macedonia
under his power； and from thence it spread amongst the people； and
created general joy； with shoutings and acclamations for that whole
day through the city。 But when no certain author was found of the
news； and every one alike had taken it at random； it was abandoned for
the present and thought no more of； until； a few days after； certain
intelligence came； and then the first was looked upon as no less
than a miracle； having； under an appearance of fiction； contained what
was real and true。 It is reported also； that the news of the battle
fought in Italy； near the river Sagra； was conveyed into
Peloponnesus the same day； and of that at Mycale against the Medes； to
Plataea。 When the Romans had defeated the Tarquins； who were
combined with the Latins； a little after there were seen at Rome two
tall and comely men； who professed to bring the news from the camp。
They were conjectured to be Castor and Pollux。 The first man that
spoke to them in the forum； near the fountain where they were
cooling their horses； which were all of a foam； expressed surprise
at the report of the victory； when； it is said； they smiled； and
gently touched his beard with their hands； the hair of which from
being black was； on the spot； changed to yellow。 This gave credit to
what they said； and fixed the name of Ahenobarbus； or Brazen…beard； on
the man。 And a thing which happened in our own time will make all
these credible。 For when Antonius rebelled against Domitian； and
Rome was in consternation； expecting great wars from the quarter of
Germany； all on a sudden； and nobody knows upon what account； the
people spontaneously gave out a rumour of victory； and the news ran
current through the city； that Antonius himself was slain； his whole
army destroyed； and not so much as a part of it escaped； nay； this
belief was so strong and positive； that many of the magistrates
offered up sacrifice。 But when； at length； the author was sought
for； and none was to be found； it vanished by degrees； every one
shifting it off from himself to another； and； at last； was lost in the
numberless crowd； as in a vast ocean； and； having no solid ground to
support its credit； was in a short time not so much as named in the
city。 Nevertheless； when Domitian marched out with his forces to the
war； he met with messengers and letters that gave him a relation of
the victory； and the rumour； it was found； had come the very day it
was gained； though the distance between the places was more than
twenty…five hundred miles。 The truth of this no man of our time is
ignorant of。
But to proceed。 Cnaeus Octavius； who was joined in command with
Aemilius； came to an anchor with his fleet under Samothrace； where；
out of respect to the gods； he permitted Perseus to enjoy the
benefit of refuge； but took care that he should not escape by sea。
Notwithstanding； Perseus secretly persuaded Oroandes of Crete；
master of a small vessel； to convey him and his treasure away。 He；
however； playing the true Cretan； took in the treasure； and bade him
come； in the night； with his children and most necessary attendants；
to the port by the temple of Ceres； but； as soon as it was evening；
set sail without him。 It had been sad enough for Perseus to be
forced to let down himself； his wife； and children through a narrow
window by a wall… people altogether unaccustomed to hardship and
flying； but that which drew a far sadder sigh from his heart was； when
he was told by a man； as he wandered on the shore； that he had seen
Oroandes under sail in the main sea； it being now about daybreak。
So； there being no hopes left of escaping； he fled back again to the
wall； which he and his wife recovered； though they were seen by the
Romans； before they could reach them。 His children he himself had
delivered into the hands of Ion； one that had been his favourite；
but now proved his betrayer； and was the chief cause that forced him
（beasts themselves will do so when their young ones are taken） to come
and yield himself up to those that had them in their power。 His
greatest confidence was in Nasica； and it was for him he called； but
he not being there； he bewailed his misfortune； and； seeing there
was no possible remedy； surrendered himself to Octavius。 And here；
in particular； he made it manifest that he was possessed with a vice
more sordid than covetousness itself； namely； the fondness of life； by
which he deprived himself even of pity； the only thing that fortune
never takes away from the most wretched。 He desired to be brought to
Aemilius； who arose from his seat； and； accompanied with his
friends； went to receive him； with tears in his eyes； as a great man
fallen by the anger of the gods and his own ill…fortune； when Perseus…
the most shameful of sights… threw himself at his feet； embraced his
knees； and uttered unmanly cries and petitions； such as Aemilius was
not able to bear； nor would vouchsafe to hear： but looking on him with
a sad and angry countenance he said； 〃Why； unhappy man； do you thus
take pains to exonerate fortune of your heaviest charge against her；
by conduct that will make it seem that you are not unjustly in
calamity； and that it is not your present condition； but your former
happiness； that was more than your deserts？ And why depreciate also my
victory； and make my conquests insignificant； by proving yourself a
coward； and a foe beneath a Roman？ Distressed valour challenges
great respect； even from enemies； but cowardice； though never so
successful； from the Romans has always met with scorn。〃 Yet for all
this he took him up； gave him his hand； and delivered him into the
custody of Tubero。 Meantime； he himself carried his sons； his
sons…in…law； and