Flamininus   

above all bent and determined on justice. But the story of his actions
will best illustrate these particulars.
Titus observed that both Sulpicius and Publius, who had been his predecessors
in that command, had not taken the field against the Macedonians till
late in the year; and then, too, had not set their hands properly
to the war, but had kept skirmishing and scouting here and there for
passes and provisions, and never came to close fighting with Philip.
He resolved not to trifle away a year, as they had done, at home in
ostentation of the honour, and in domestic administration, and only
then to join the army, with the pitiful hope of protracting the term
of office through a second year, acting as consul in the first, and
as general in the latter. He was, moreover, infinitely desirous to
employ his authority with effect upon the war, which made him slight
those home honours and prerogatives. Requesting, therefore, of the
senate, that his brother Lucius might act with him as admiral of the
navy, and taking with him to be the edge, as it were, of the expedition
three thousand still young and vigorous soldiers, of those who, under
Scipio, had defeated Asdrubal in Spain, and Hannibal in Africa, he
got safe into Epirus; and found Publius encamped with his army, over
against Philip, who had long made good the pass over the river Apsus,
and the straits there; Publius not having been able, for the natural
strength of the place, to effect anything against him. Titus therefore
took upon himself the conduct of the army, and, having dismissed Publius,
examined the ground. The place is in strength not inferior to Tempe,
though it lacks the trees and green woods, and the pleasant meadows
and walks that adorn Tempe. The Apsus, making its way between vast
and lofty mountains which all but meet above a single deep ravine
in the midst, is not unlike the river Peneus in the rapidity of its
current and in its general appearance. It covers the foot of those
hills, and leaves only a craggy, narrow path cut out beside the stream,
not easily passable at any time for an army, but not at all when guarded
by an enemy.
There were some, therefore, who would have had Titus make a circuit
through Dassaretis, and take an easy and safe road by the district
of Lyncus. But he, fearing that if he should engage himself too far
from the sea in barren and untilled countries, and Philip should decline
fighting, he might, through want of provisions, be constrained to
march back again to the seaside without effecting anything, as his
predecessor had done before him, embraced the resolution of forcing
his way over the mountains. But Philip, having possessed himself of
them with his army, showered down his darts and arrows from all parts
upon the Romans. Sharp encounters took place, and many fell wounded
and slain on both sides, and there seemed but little likelihood of
thus ending the war; when some of the men, who fed their cattle thereabouts,
came to Titus with a discovery, that there was a roundabout way which
the enemy neglected to guard: through which they undertook to conduct
his army, and to bring it, within three days at furthest, to the top
of the hills. To gain the surer credit with him, they said that Charops,
son of Machatas, a leading man in Epirus, who was friendly to the
Romans, and aided them (though, for fear of Philip, secretly), was
privy to the design. Titus gave their information belief, and sent
a captain with four thousand foot and three hundred horse; these herdsmen
being their guides, but kept in bonds. In the daytime they lay still
under the covert of the hollow and woody places, but in the night
they marched by moonlight, the moon being then at the full. Titus,
having detached this party, lay quiet with his main body, merely keeping
up the attention of the enemy by some slight skirmishing. But when
the day arrived that those who stole round were expected upon the
top of the hill, he drew up his forces early in the morning, as well
the light-armed as the heavy, and, dividing them into three parts,
himself led the van, marching his men up the narrow passage along
the bank, darted at by the Macedonians and engaging, in this difficult
ground, hand to hand with his assailants; whilst the other two divisions
on either side of him threw themselves with great alacrity among the