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make any entrance… a sort of palisade； as it were； impregnable and
unapproachable； with its close array of long spears everywhere meeting
the assailant。 Nevertheless； the unequalness of the ground would not
permit a widely extended front to be so exactly drawn up as to have
their shields everywhere joined； and Aemilius perceived that there
were a great many interstices and breaches in the Macedonian
phalanx； as it usually happens in all great armies； according to the
different efforts of the combatants； who in one part press forward
with eagerness； and in another are forced to fall back。 Taking；
therefore； this occasion； with all speed he broke up his men into
their cohorts； and gave them order to fall into the intervals and
openings of the enemy's body； and not to make one general attack
upon them all； but to engage； as they were divided； in several partial
battles。 These commands Aemilius gave to his captains； and they to
their soldiers； and no sooner had they entered the spaces and
separated their enemies； but they charged them； some on their sides
where they were naked and exposed； and others； making a circuit；
behind； and thus destroyed the force of the phalanx； which consists in
common action and close union。 And now； come to fight man to man； or
in small parties； the Macedonians smote in vain upon firm and long
shields with their little swords； whilst their slight bucklers were
not able to sustain the weight and force of the Roman swords； which
pierced through all their armour to their bodies； they turned； in
fine； and fled。
The conflict was obstinate。 And here Marcus； the son of Cato； and
son…in…law of Aemilius； whilst he showed all possible courage； let
fall his sword。 Being a young man carefully brought up and
disciplined； and； son of so renowned a father； bound to give proof
of more than ordinary virtue； he thought his life but a burden； should
he live and permit his enemies to enjoy this spoil。 He hurried
hither and thither； and wherever he espied a friend or companion；
declared his misfortune； and begged their assistance； a considerable
number of brave men being thus collected； with one accord they made
their way through their fellows after their leader； and fell upon
the enemy； whom after a sharp conflict； many wounds； and much
slaughter； they repulsed； possessed the place that was now deserted
and free； and set themselves to search for the sword； which at last
they found covered with a great heap of arms and dead bodies。
Overjoyed with this success； they raised the song of triumph； and；
with more eagerness than ever； charged the foes that yet remained firm
and unbroken。 In the end； three thousand of the chosen men； who kept
their ground and fought valiantly to the last； were all cut in pieces；
while the slaughter of such as fled was also very great。 The plain and
the lower part of the hills were filled with dead bodies； and the
water of the river Leucus； which the Romans did not pass till the next
day after the battle； was then mingled with blood。 For it is said
there fell more than twenty…five thousand of the enemy； of the Romans；
as Posidonius relates； a hundred； as Nasica； only fourscore。 This
battle； though so great； was very quickly decided； it being three in
the afternoon when they first engaged； and not four when the enemy was
vanquished； the rest of the day was spent in pursuit of the fugitives；
whom they followed about thirteen or fourteen miles； so that it was
far in the night when they returned。
All the others were met by their servants with torches； and
brought back with joy and great triumph to their tents； which were set
out with lights； and decked with wreaths of ivy and laurel。 But the
general himself was in great grief。 Of the two sons that served
under him in the war； the youngest was missing； whom he held most
dear； and whose courage and good qualities he perceived much to
excel those of his brothers。 Bold and eager for distinction； and still
a mere child in age； he concluded that he had perished； whilst for
want of experience he had engaged himself too far amongst his enemies。
His sorrow and fears became known to the army； the soldiers；
quitting their suppers； ran about with lights； some to Aemilius's
tent； some out of the trenches； to seek him amongst such as were slain
in the first onset。 There was nothing but grief in the camp； and the
plain was filled with the cries of men calling out for Scipio； for；
from his very youth； he was an object of admiration； endowed above any
of his equals with the good qualities requisite either for command
or counsel。 At length； when it was late； and they almost despaired； he
returned from the pursuit with only two or three of his companions all
covered with the fresh blood of his enemies； having been； like some
dog of noble breed； carried away by the pleasure； greater than he
could control； of his first victory。 This was that Scipio that
afterwards destroyed Carthage and Numantia； and was； without
dispute； the first of the Romans in merit； and had the greatest
authority amongst them。 Thus Fortune； deferring her displeasure and
jealousy of such great success to some other time； let Aemilius at
present enjoy this victory； without any detraction or diminution。
As for Perseus； from Pydna he fled to Pella with his cavalry；
which was as yet almost entire。 But when the foot came up with them；
and； upbraiding them as cowards and traitors； tried to pull them off
their horses； and fell to blows； Perseus； fearing the tumult；
forsook the common road； and； lest he should be known； pulled off
his purple； and carried it before him； and took his crown in his
hand and； that he might the better converse with his friends； alighted
from his horse and led him。 Of those that were about him； one stopped；
pretending to tie his shoe that was loose； another to water his horse；
a third to drink himself； and thus lagging behind； by degrees left
him； they having not so much reason to fear their enemies as his
cruelty； for he； disordered by his misfortune； sought to clear himself
by laying the cause of the overthrow upon everybody else。 He arrived
at Pella in the night； where Euctus and Eudaeus； two of his
treasurers； came to him； and； what with their reflecting on his former
faults； and their free and ill…timed admonitions and counsels； so
exasperated him； that he killed them both； stabbing them with his
own dagger。 After this； nobody stuck to him but Evander the Cretan；
Archedemus the Aetolian； and Neon the Boeotian。 Of the common soldiers
there followed him only those from Crete； not out of any good…will；
but because they were as constant to his riches as the bees to their
hive。 For he carried a great treasure with him； out of which he had
suffered them to take cups； bowls； and other vessels of silver and
gold； to the value of fifty talents。 But when he was come to
Amphipolis； and afterwards to Galepsus； and his fears were a little
abated； he relapsed into his old and constitutional disease of
covetousness； and lamented to his friends that he had； through
inadvertency； allowed some gold plate which had belonged to
Alexander the Great to go into the hands of the Cretans； and
besought those that had it； with tears in his eyes； to exchange with
him again for money。 Those that understood him thoroughly knew very
well that he only played the Cretan with the Cretans； but those that
believed him； and restored what they had； were cheated； as he not only
did not pay the money； but by craft got thirty talents more of his
friends into his hands （which in a short time after fell to the
enemy）； and with them sailed to Samothrace； and there fled to the
temple of Castor and Pollux for refuge。
The Macedonians were always accounted great lovers of their kings；
but now； as if their chief prop was broken； they all gave way
together； and submitted to Aemilius； and in two days made him master
of their whole country。 This seems to confirm the opinion which
ascribes whatever he did to good fortune。 The omen； also； that
happened at Amphipolis has a supernatural character。 When he was。
sacrificing there； and the holy rites were just begun； on a sudden；
lightning fell upon the altar； set