Respect for which he tried to instil into us, we ask him that Philip protect us both against Nabis and his Lacedaemonians and against the Romans, he will not only find no garrison wherewith to protect us: he will not even find an answer to give us, any more, by Hercules, than Philip did last year We see no sign of Philip except his ambassador the Roman fleet lies at Cenchreae, displaying the spoils of the cities of Euboea, we see the consul and his legions marching through Phocis and Locris, separated from us by a narrow stretch of water ĭo you wonder why Cleomedon, Philip's delegate, suggested with such hesitation a while ago that we take up arms in the king's cause against the Romans? If, in accordance with that treaty and oath,

Philip reminds us of our alliance with him and of our oath, and now demands that we take our stand with him, now says that he is satisfied if we refrain from taking up arms.ĭoes it occur to no one why those who are not yet our allies demand more than our ally? This is not, ye Achaeans, the result of Philip's moderation or the Romans' arrogance 1 fortune both gives and takes away confidence in making demands. The Romans, the Rhodians and Attalus ask for our alliance and friendship, and in the war which they are waging with Philip they think it proper that we should assist them. Perhaps I too should keep silence if I were a private citizen now I see that, so far as the praetor is concerned, either the ambassadors should not have been granted an audience or they should not be sent away unanswered but how can I answer except in accordance with your decree?Īnd since no one of you who have been summoned to this council wishes or dares to say anything in the way of suggestion, let us consider the ambassadors' speeches delivered yesterday as opinions expressed in debate, just as if they had not intended what was to their own interest but recommended what they deemed profitable for us. So the praetor Aristaenus spoke again: 'You lack counsel, leaders of the Achaeans, no less than the power of speech but each one refuses to promote the public interest at the cost of peril to himself.

Shadows of doubt attalus