Aemilius Paulus   

into his hands. He, at the utmost, razed only the fortifications and
delivered their towns to them again, but took away all their shipping
with him, leaving them no vessels bigger than those of three oars,
and set at liberty great numbers of prisoners they had taken both
by sea and land, strangers as well as Romans. These were the acts
most worthy of remark in his first consulship.
Afterwards he frequently intimated his desire of being a second time
consul, and was once candidate; but meeting with a repulse and being
passed by, he gave up all thought of it, and devoted himself to his
duties as augur, and to the education of his children, whom he not
only brought up, as he himself had been, in the Roman and ancient
discipline, but also with unusual zeal in that of Greece. To this
purpose he not only procured masters to teach them grammar, logic,
and rhetoric, but had for them also preceptors in modelling and drawing,
managers of horses and dogs, and instructors in field sports, all
from Greece. And, if he was not hindered by public affairs, he himself
would be with them at their studies, and see them perform their exercises,
being the most affectionate father in Rome.
This was the time, in public matters, when the Romans were engaged
in war with Perseus, King of the Macedonians, and great complaints
were made of their commanders, who, either through their want of skill
or courage, were conducting matters so shamefully, that they did less
hurt to the enemy than they received from him. They that not long
before had forced Antiochus the Great to quit the rest of Asia, to
retire beyond Mount Taurus, and confine himself to Syria, glad to
buy his peace with fifteen thousand talents; they that not long since
had vanquished King Philip in Thessaly, and freed the Greeks from
the Macedonian yoke; nay, had overcome Hannibal himself, who far surpassed
all kings in daring and power- thought it scorn that Perseus should
think himself an enemy fit to match the Romans, and to be able to
wage war with them so long on equal terms, with the remainder only
of his father's routed forces; not being aware that Philip after his
defeat had greatly improved both the strength and discipline of the
Macedonian army. To make which appear, I shall briefly recount the
story from the beginning.
Antigonus, the most powerful amongst the captains and successors of
Alexander, having obtained for himself and his posterity the title
of king, had a son named Demetrius, father to Antigonus, called Gonatas,
and he had a son Demetrius, who, reigning some short time, died and
left a young son called Philip. The chief men of Macedon, fearing
great confusion might arise in his minority, called in Antigonus,
cousin-german to the late king, and married him to the widow, the
mother of Philip. At first they only styled him regent and general,
but when they found by experience that he governed the kingdom with
moderation and to general advantage, gave him the title of king. This
was he that was surnamed Doson, as if he was a great promiser and
a bad performer. To him succeeded Philip, who in his youth gave great
hopes of equalling the best of kings, and that he one day would restore
Macedon to its former state and dignity, and prove himself the one
man able to check the power of the Romans, now rising and extending
over the whole world. But, being vanquished in a pitched battle by
Titus Flaminius near Scotussa, his resolution failed, and he yielded
himself and all that he had to the mercy of the Romans, well contented
that he could escape with paying a small tribute. Yet afterwards,
recollecting himself, he bore it with great impatience, and though
he lived rather like a slave that was pleased with ease, than a man
of sense and courage, whilst he held his kingdom at the pleasure of
his conquerors; which made him turn his whole mind to war, and prepare
himself with as much cunning and privacy as possible. To this end,
he left his cities on the high roads and sea-coast ungarrisoned, and
almost desolate, that they might seem inconsiderable; in the meantime,
collecting large forces up the country, and furnishing his inland
posts, strongholds, and towns, with arms, money, and men fit for service,
he thus provided himself for war, and yet kept his preparations close.