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Paulus is； when I see he was able to perform such famous and great
exploits with an army so full of sedition and baseness； nor can I
sufficiently wonder； that a people that seemed to glory in the
triumphs over Illyrians and Ligurians； should now through envy
refuse to see the Macedonian king led alive； and all the glory of
Philip and Alexander； in captivity to the Roman power。 For is it not a
strange thing for you； who upon a slight rumour of victory that came
by chance into the city； did offer sacrifices and put up your requests
unto the gods that you might see the report verified； now； when the
general is returned with an undoubted conquest； to defraud the gods of
honour； and yourselves of joy； as if you feared to behold the
greatness of his warlike deed； or were resolved to spare your enemy？
And of the two； much better were it to put a stop to the triumph；
out of pity to him； than out of envy to your general； yet to such a
height of power is malice arrived amongst you； that a man without
one scar to show on his skin； that is smooth and sleek with ease and
homekeeping habits； will undertake to define the office and duties
of a general before us； who with our own wounds have been taught how
to judge of the valour or the cowardice of commanders。〃 And； at the
same time； putting aside his garment； he showed an infinite number
of scars upon his breast； and； turning about； he exposed some parts of
his person which it is usual to conceal； and； addressing Galba；
said： 〃You deride me for these； in which I glory before my
fellow…citizens； for it is in their service； in which I have ridden
night and day； that I received them； but go collect the votes；
whilst I follow after； and note the base and ungrateful； and such as
choose rather to be flattered and courted than commanded by their
general。〃 It is said this speech so stopped the soldiers' mouths；
and altered their minds； that all the tribes decreed a triumph for
Aemilius； which was performed after this manner。
The people erected scaffolds in the forum； in the circuses； as
they call their buildings for horse…races； and in all other parts of
the city where they could best behold the show。 The spectators were
clad in white garments； all the temples were open； and full of
garlands and perfumes； the ways were cleared and kept open by numerous
officers； who drove back all who crowded into or ran across the main
avenue。 This triumph lasted three days。 On the first； which was
scarcely long enough for the sight； were to be seen the statues；
pictures； and colossal images which were taken from the enemy； drawn
upon two hundred and fifty chariots。 On the second was carried in a
great many wagons the finest and richest armour of the Macedonians；
both of brass and steel； all newly polished and glittering the
pieces of which were piled up and arranged purposely with the greatest
art； so as to seem to be tumbled in heaps carelessly and by chance：
helmets were thrown upon shields； coats of mail upon greaves； Cretan
targets； and Thracian bucklers and quivers of arrows； lay huddled
amongst horses' bits； and through these there appeared the points of
naked swords； intermixed with long Macedonian sarissas。 All these arms
were fastened together with just so much looseness that they struck
against one another as they were drawn along； and made a harsh and
alarming noise； so that； even as spoils of a conquered enemy； they
could not be beheld without dread。 After these wagons loaded with
armour there followed three thousand men who carried the silver that
was coined； in seven hundred and fifty vessels； each of which
weighed three talents； and was carried by four men。 Others brought
silver bowls and goblets and cups； all disposed in such order as to
make the best show； and all curious as well for their size as the
solidity of their embossed work。
On the third day； early in the morning； first came the trumpeters；
who did not sound as they were wont in a procession or solemn entry；
but such a charge as the Romans use when they encourage the soldiers
to fight。 Next followed young men wearing frocks with ornamented
borders； who led to the sacrifice a hundred and twenty stalled oxen；
with their horns gilded； and their heads adorned with ribbons and
garlands； and with these were boys that carried basins for libation；
of silver and gold。 After this was brought the gold coin； which was
divided into vessels that weighed three talents； like those that
contained the silver； they were in number seventy…seven。 These were
followed by those that brought the consecrated bowl which Aemilius had
caused to be made； that weighed ten talents； and was set with precious
stones。 Then were exposed to view the cups of Antigonus and
Seleucus； and those of the Thericlean make； and all the gold plate
that was used at Perseus's table。 Next to these came Perseus's
chariot； in which his armour was placed； and on that his diadem。
And； after a little intermission； the king's children were led
captives； and with them a train of their attendants； masters； and
teachers； all shedding tears； and stretching out hands to the
spectators； and making the children themselves also beg and entreat
their compassion。 There were two sons and a daughter； whose tender age
made them but little sensible of the greatness of their misery；
which very insensibility of their condition rendered it the more
deplorable； insomuch that Perseus himself was scarcely regarded as
he went along； whilst pity fixed the eyes of the Romans upon the
infants； and many of them could not forbear tears； and all beheld
the sight with a mixture of sorrow and pleasure； until the children
were passed。
After his children and their attendants came Perseus himself； clad
all in black； and wearing the boots of his country； and looking like
one altogether stunned and deprived of reason； through the greatness
of his misfortunes。 Next followed a great company of his friends and
familiars； whose countenances were disfigured with grief； and who
let the spectators see； by their tears and their continual looking
upon Perseus； that it was his fortune they so much lamented； and
that they were regardless of their own。 Perseus sent to Aemilius to
entreat that he might not be led in pomp； but be left out of the
triumph； who； deriding； as was but just； his cowardice and fondness of
life； sent him this answer； that as for that； it had been before；
and was now； in his own power； giving him to understand that the
disgrace could be avoided by death； which the faint…hearted man not
having the spirit for； and made effeminate by I know not what hopes；
allowed himself to appear as a part of his own spoils。 After these
were carried four hundred crowns； all made of gold； sent from the
cities by their respective deputations to Aemilius； in honour of his
victory。 Then he himself came； seated on a chariot magnificently
adorned （a man well worthy to be looked at； even without these ensigns
of power）； dressed in a robe of purple； interwoven with gold； and
holding a laurel branch in his right hand。 All the army； in like
manner； with boughs of laurel in their hands； divided into their hands
and companies； followed the chariot of their commander； some singing
verses； according to the usual custom； mingled with raillery；
others； songs of triumph and the praise of Aemilius's deeds； who；
indeed； was admired and accounted happy by all men； and unenvied by
every one that was good； except so far as it seems the province of
some god to lessen that happiness which is too great and inordinate；
and so to mingle the affairs of human life that no one should be
entirely free and exempt from calamities； but； as we read in Homer；
that those should think themselves truly blessed whom fortune has
given an equal share of good and evil。
Aemilius had four sons； of whom Scipio and Fabius； as is already
related； were adopted into other families； the other two； whom he
had by a second wife； and who were yet but young； he brought up in his
own house。 One of these died at fourteen years of age； five days
before his father's triumph； the other at twelve； three days after； so
that there was no Roman without a deep sense of his suffering； and who
did not shudder at the cruelty of fortune； that had not scrupled to
bring so much sorrow into a house replenished with happiness；
rejoicing； and sacrifices； and to intermingle tears and laments with
songs of victory and triumph。
Aemilius； however； reasoning justly that courage and resolution
was not merely to resist armour and spears； but all the shocks of
ill…fortune； so met and so adapted himself to these mingled and
contrasting circumstances； as to outbalance the evil with the good；
and his private concerns with those of the public； and thus did not
allow anything either to take away from the grandeur； or sully the
dignity of his victory。 For as soon as he had buried the first of
his sons （as we have already said）； he triumphed； and the second dying
almost as soon as his triumph was over； he gathered together an
assembly of the people； and made an oration to them； not like a man
that stood in need of comfort from others； but one that undertook to
support his fellow…citizen