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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 others of chief rank； especially of the younger sort；
back with him into his tent； where for a long time he sat down without
speaking one word； insomuch that they all wondered at him。 At last； he
began to discourse of fortune and human affairs。 〃Is it meet；〃 said
he； 〃for him that knows he is but man； in his greatest prosperity to
pride himself； and be exalted at the conquest of a city； nation； or
kingdom； and not rather well to weigh this change of fortune； in which
all warriors may see an example of their common frailty； and learn a
lesson that there is nothing durable or constant？ For what time can
men select to think themselves secure； when that of victory itself
forces us more than any to dread our own fortune？ and a very little
consideration on the law of things； and how all are hurried round； and
each man's station changed； will introduce sadness in the midst of the
greatest joy。 Or can you； when you see before your eyes the succession
of Alexander himself； who arrived at the height of power and ruled the
greatest empire； in the short space of an hour trodden underfoot… when
you behold a king； that was but even now surrounded with so numerous
an army； receiving nourishment to support his life from the hands of
his conquerors… can you； I say； believe there is any certainty in what
we now possess whilst there is such a thing as chance？ No； young
men； cast off that vain pride and empty boast of victory； sit down
with humility； looking always for what is yet to come； and the
possible future reverses which the divine displeasure may eventually
make the end of our present happiness。〃 It is said that Aemilius；
having spoken much more to the same purpose； dismissed the young men
properly humbled； and with their vainglory and insolence thoroughly
chastened and curbed by his address。
When this was done； he put his army into garrisons； to refresh
themselves； and went himself to visit Greece； and to spend a short
time in relaxations equally honourable and humane。 For as he passed；
he eased the people's grievances； reformed their governments； and
bestowed gifts upon them； to some corn； to others oil out of the
king's storehouses； in which； they report； there were such vast
quantities laid up； that receivers and petitioners were lacking before
they could be exhausted。 In Delphi he found a great square pillar of
white marble； designed for the pedestal of King Perseus's golden
statue； on which he commanded his own to be placed； alleging that it
was but just that the conquered should give place to the conquerors。
In Olympia he is said to have uttered the saying everybody has
heard； that Phidias had carved Homer's Jupiter。 When the ten
commissioners arrived from Rome； he delivered up again to the
Macedonians their cities and country； granting them to live at
liberty； and according to their own laws； only paying the Romans the
tribute of a hundred talents； double which sum they had been wont to
pay to their kings。 Then he celebrated all manner of shows and
games； and sacrifices to the gods； and made great entertainments and
feasts； the charge of all which he liberally defrayed out of the
king's treasury； and showed that he understood the ordering and
placing of his guests； and how every man should be received；
answerably to their rank and quality； with such nice exactness； that
the Greeks were full of wonder； finding the care of these matters of
pleasure did not escape him； and that though involved in such
important business； he could observe correctness in these trifles。 Nor
was it least gratifying to him； that； amidst all the magnificent and
splendid preparations； he himself was always the most grateful
sight； and greatest pleasure to those he entertained。 And he told
those that seemed to wonder at his diligence； that there was the
same spirit shown in marshalling； a banquet as an army； in rendering
the one formidable to the enemy； the other acceptable to the guests。
Nor did men less praise his liberality； and the greatness of his soul；
than his other virtues； for he would not so much as see those great
quantities of silver and gold； which were heaped together out of the
king's palaces； but delivered them to the quaestors； to be put into
the public treasury。 He only permitted his own sons； who were great
lovers of learning； to take the king's books； and when he
distributed rewards due to extraordinary valour； he gave his
son…in…law； Aelius Tubero； a bowl that weighed five pounds。 This is
that Tubero we have already mentioned； who was one of sixteen
relations that lived together； and were all maintained out of one
little farm； and it is said that this was the first plate that ever
entered the house of the Aelii； brought thither as an honour and
reward of virtue； before this time； neither they nor their wives
ever made use either of silver or gold。
Having thus settled everything well； taking his leave of the Greeks；
and exhorting the Macedonians； that； mindful of the liberty they had
received from the Romans； they should endeavour to maintain it by
their obedience to the laws； and concord amongst themselves； he
departed for Epirus； having orders from the senate to give the
soldiers that followed him in the war against Perseus the pillage of
the cities of that country。 That he might set upon them all at once by
surprise and unawares； he summoned ten of the principal men out of
each； whom he commanded； on such an appointed day； to bring all the
gold and silver they had either in their private houses or temples；
and； with every one of these； as if it were for this very purpose； and
under a pretence of searching for and receiving the gold； he sent a
centurion and a guard of soldiers； who； the set day being come； rose
all at once； and at the very self…same time fell upon them； and
proceeded to ransack the cities； so that in one hour a hundred and
fifty thousand persons were made slaves； and threescore and ten cities
sacked。 Yet what was given to each soldier； out of so vast a
destruction and utter ruin； amounted to no more than eleven
drachmas； so that men could only shudder at the issue of a war；
where the wealth of a whole nation thus divided turned to so little
advantage and profit to each particular man。
When Aemilius had done this… an action perfectly contrary to his
gentle and mild nature… he went down to Oricus； where he embarked
his army for Italy。 He sailed up the river Tiber in the king's galley；
that had sixteen banks of oars； and was richly adorned with captured
arms and with cloths of purple and scarlet； so that； the vessel rowing
slowly against the stream； the Romans that crowded on the shore to
meet him had a foretaste of his following triumph。 But the soldiers；
who had cast a covetous eye on the treasures of Perseus； when they did
not obtain as much as they thought they deserved； were secretly
enraged and angry with Aemilius for this； but openly complained that
he had been a severe and tyrannical commander over them； nor were they
ready to show their desire of his triumph。 When Servius Galba； who was
Aemilius's enemy； though he commanded as tribune under him； understood
this； he had the boldness plainly to affirm that a triumph was not
to be allowed him； and sowed various calumnies amongst the soldiers；
which yet further increased their ill…will。 Nay more； he desired the
tribunes of the people； because the four hours that were remaining
of the day could not suffice for the accusation； to let him put it off
till another。 But when the tribunes commanded him to speak then； if he
had anything to say； he began a long oration； filled with all manner
of reproaches； in which he spent the remaining part of the time； and
the tribunes； when it was dark； dismissed the assembly。 The soldiers
growing more vehement on this； thronged all to Galba； and entering
into a conspiracy； early in the morning beset the capitol； where the
tribunes had appointed the following assembly to be held。
As soon as it was day it was put to the vote； and the first tribe
was proceeding to refuse the triumph； and the news spread amongst
the people and to the senate。 The people were indeed much grieved that
Aemilius should meet with such ignominy； but this was only in words；
which had no effect。 The chief of the senate exclaimed against it as a
base action； and excited one another to repress the boldness and
insolence of the soldiers； which would ere long become altogether
ungovernable and violent； were they now permitted to deprive
Aemilius of his triumph。 Forcing a passage through the crowd； they
came up in great numbers； and desired the tribunes to defer polling
till they had spoken what they had to say to the people。 All things
thus suspended； and silence being made； Marcus Servilius stood up； a
man of consular dignity； and who had killed twenty…three of his
enemies that had challenged him in single combat。 〃It is now more than
ever；〃 said he； 〃clear to my mind how great a commander our Aemilius
Paulus is； when I see he was able to perform such famous and great
exploits with an army so ful