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security； thinking by delay and expense to weary out Aemilius。 But he；
in the meantime； busy in thought； weighed all counsels and all means
of attack； and perceiving his soldiers； from their former want of
discipline； to be impatient of delay； and ready on all occasions to
teach their general his duty； rebuked them； and bade them not meddle
with what was not their concern； but only take care that they and
their arms were in readiness； and to use their swords like Romans when
their commander should think fit to employ them。 Further； he ordered
that the sentinels by night should watch without javelins； that thus
they might be more careful and surer to resist sleep； having no arms
to defend themselves against any attacks of an enemy。
What most annoyed the army was the want of water； for only a little；
and that foul； flowed out； or rather came by drops from a spring
adjoining the sea； but Aemilius； considering that he was at the foot
of the high and woody mountain Olympus； and conjecturing by the
flourishing growth of the trees that there were springs that had their
course underground； dug a great many holes and wells along the foot of
the mountain； which were presently filled with pure water escaping
from its confinement into the vacuum they afforded。 Although there are
some； indeed； who deny that there are reservoirs of water lying
ready provided out of sight； in the places from whence springs flow；
and that when they appear； they merely issue and run out； on the
contrary； they say； they are then formed and come into existence for
the first time； by the liquefaction of the surrounding matter； and
that this change is caused by density and cold； when the moist vapour；
by being closely pressed together； becomes fluid。 As women's breasts
are not like vessels full of milk always prepared and ready to flow
from them； but their nourishment being changed in their breasts； is
there made milk； and from thence is pressed out。 In like manner；
places of the earth that are cold and full of springs； do not
contain any hidden waters or receptacles which are capable； as from
a source always ready and furnished； of supplying all the brooks and
deep rivers； but by compressing and condensing the vapours and air
they turn them into that substance。 And thus places that are dug open；
flow by that pressure； and afford the more water （as the breasts of
women do milk by their being sucked）； the vapour thus moistening and
becoming fluid； whereas ground that remains idle and undug is not
capable of producing any water； whilst it wants the motion which is
the cause of liquefaction。 But those that assert this opinion give
occasion to the doubtful to argue； that on the same ground there
should be no blood in living creatures； but that it must be formed
by the wound； some sort of spirit or flesh being changed into a liquid
and flowing matter。 Moreover； they are refuted by the fact that men
who dig mines； either in sieges or for metals； meet with rivers； which
are not collected by little and little （as must necessarily be； if
they had their being at the very instant the earth was opened）； but
break out at once with violence； and upon the cutting through a
rock； there often gush out great quantities of water； which then as
suddenly cease。 But of this enough。
Aemilius lay still for some days； and it is said that there were
never two great armies so nigh that enjoyed so much quiet。 When he had
tried and considered all things； he was informed that there was yet
one passage left unguarded； through Perrhaebia by the temple of Apollo
and the Rock。 Gathering； therefore； more hope from the place being
left defenceless than fear from the roughness and difficulty of the
passage； he proposed it for consultation。 Amongst those that were
present at the council； Scipio； surnamed Nasica； son…in…law to
Scipio Africanus； who afterwards was so powerful in the
senate…house； was the first that offered himself to command those that
should be sent to encompass the enemy。 Next to him； Fabius Maximus；
eldest son of Aemilius； although yet very young； offered himself
with great zeal。 Aemilius； rejoicing； gave them； not so many as
Polybius states； but； as Nasica himself tells us in a brief letter
which he wrote to one of the kings with an account of the
expedition； three thousand Italians that were not Romans； and his left
wing consisting of five thousand。 Taking with him； besides these；
one hundred and twenty horsemen； and two hundred Thracians and Cretans
intermixed that Harpalus had sent； he began his journey towards the
sea； and encamped near the temple of Hercules； as if he designed to
embark； and so to sail round and environ the enemy。 But when the
soldiers had supped and it was dark； he made the captains acquainted
with his real intentions； and marching all night in the opposite
directions away from the sea； till he came under the temple of Apollo；
there rested his army。 At this place Mount Olympus rises in height
more than ten furlongs； as appears by the epigram made by the man that
measured it：…
〃The summit of Olympus； at the site
Where stands Apollo's temple； has a height
Of full ten furlongs by the line； and more；
Ten furlongs； and one hundred feet； less four。
Eumelus's son； Xenagoras； reached the place。
Adieu； O king； and do thy pilgrim grace。〃
It is allowed； say the geometricians； that no mountain in height
or sea in depth exceeds ten furlongs； and yet it seems probable that
Xenagoras did not take his admeasurement carelessly； but according
to the rules of art； and with instruments for the purpose。 Here it was
that Nasica passed the night。
A Cretan deserted； who fled to the enemy during the march；
discovered to Perseus the design which the Romans had to encompass
him： for he； seeing that Aemilius lay still； had not suspected any
such attempt。 He was startled at the news； yet did not put his army in
motion； but sent ten thousand mercenary soldiers； and two thousand
Macedonians； under command of Milo； with order to hasten and possess
themselves of the passes。 Polybius relates that the Romans found these
men asleep when they attacked them； but Nasica says there was a
sharp and severe conflict on the top of the mountain； that he
himself encountered a mercenary Thracian； pierced him through with his
javelin； and slew him； and that the enemy being forced to retreat；
Milo stripped to his coat and fled shamefully without his armour；
while he followed without danger； and conveyed the whole army down
into the country。
After this event； Perseus； now grown fearful； and fallen from his
hopes； removed his camp in all haste； he was under the necessity
either to stop before Pydna； and there run the hazard of a battle；
or disperse his army into cities； and there expect the event of the
war； which； having once made its way into his country； could not be
driven out without great slaughter and bloodshed。 But Perseus； being
told by his friends that he was much superior in number； and that
men fighting in the defence of their wives and children must needs
feel all the more courage； especially when all was done in the sight
of their king； who himself was engaged in equal danger； was thus again
encouraged； and； pitching his camp； prepared himself to fight；
viewed the country； and gave out the commands； as if he designed to
set upon the Romans as soon as they approached。 The place was a
field fit for the action of a phalanx； which requires smooth
standing and even ground； and also had divers little hills； one
joining another； fit for the motions whether in retreat or advance
of light troops and skirmishers。 Through the middle ran the rivers
Aeson and Leucus； which though not very deep； it being the latter
end of summer； yet were likely enough to give the Romans some trouble。
As soon as Aemilius had rejoined Nasica； he advanced in battle array
against the enemy； but when he found how they were drawn up； and the
number of their forces； he regarded them with admiration and surprise；
and halted； considering within himself。 The young commanders； eager to
fight； riding along by his side； pressed him not to delay； and most of