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lightning fell upon the altar； set the wood on fire； and completed the
immolation of the sacrifice。 The most signal manifestation； however；
of preternatural agency appears in the story of the rumour of his
success。 For on the fourth day after Perseus was vanquished at
Pydna； whilst the people at Rome were seeing the horse…races； a report
suddenly rose at the entrance of the theatre that Aemilius had
defeated Perseus in a great battle； and was reducing all Macedonia
under his power； and from thence it spread amongst the people； and
created general joy； with shoutings and acclamations for that whole
day through the city。 But when no certain author was found of the
news； and every one alike had taken it at random； it was abandoned for
the present and thought no more of； until； a few days after； certain
intelligence came； and then the first was looked upon as no less
than a miracle； having； under an appearance of fiction； contained what
was real and true。 It is reported also； that the news of the battle
fought in Italy； near the river Sagra； was conveyed into
Peloponnesus the same day； and of that at Mycale against the Medes； to
Plataea。 When the Romans had defeated the Tarquins； who were
combined with the Latins； a little after there were seen at Rome two
tall and comely men； who professed to bring the news from the camp。
They were conjectured to be Castor and Pollux。 The first man that
spoke to them in the forum； near the fountain where they were
cooling their horses； which were all of a foam； expressed surprise
at the report of the victory； when； it is said； they smiled； and
gently touched his beard with their hands； the hair of which from
being black was； on the spot； changed to yellow。 This gave credit to
what they said； and fixed the name of Ahenobarbus； or Brazen…beard； on
the man。 And a thing which happened in our own time will make all
these credible。 For when Antonius rebelled against Domitian； and
Rome was in consternation； expecting great wars from the quarter of
Germany； all on a sudden； and nobody knows upon what account； the
people spontaneously gave out a rumour of victory； and the news ran
current through the city； that Antonius himself was slain； his whole
army destroyed； and not so much as a part of it escaped； nay； this
belief was so strong and positive； that many of the magistrates
offered up sacrifice。 But when； at length； the author was sought
for； and none was to be found； it vanished by degrees； every one
shifting it off from himself to another； and； at last； was lost in the
numberless crowd； as in a vast ocean； and； having no solid ground to
support its credit； was in a short time not so much as named in the
city。 Nevertheless； when Domitian marched out with his forces to the
war； he met with messengers and letters that gave him a relation of
the victory； and the rumour； it was found； had come the very day it
was gained； though the distance between the places was more than
twenty…five hundred miles。 The truth of this no man of our time is
ignorant of。
But to proceed。 Cnaeus Octavius； who was joined in command with
Aemilius； came to an anchor with his fleet under Samothrace； where；
out of respect to the gods； he permitted Perseus to enjoy the
benefit of refuge； but took care that he should not escape by sea。
Notwithstanding； Perseus secretly persuaded Oroandes of Crete；
master of a small vessel； to convey him and his treasure away。 He；
however； playing the true Cretan； took in the treasure； and bade him
come； in the night； with his children and most necessary attendants；
to the port by the temple of Ceres； but； as soon as it was evening；
set sail without him。 It had been sad enough for Perseus to be
forced to let down himself； his wife； and children through a narrow
window by a wall… people altogether unaccustomed to hardship and
flying； but that which drew a far sadder sigh from his heart was； when
he was told by a man； as he wandered on the shore； that he had seen
Oroandes under sail in the main sea； it being now about daybreak。
So； there being no hopes left of escaping； he fled back again to the
wall； which he and his wife recovered； though they were seen by the
Romans； before they could reach them。 His children he himself had
delivered into the hands of Ion； one that had been his favourite；
but now proved his betrayer； and was the chief cause that forced him
（beasts themselves will do so when their young ones are taken） to come
and yield himself up to those that had them in their power。 His
greatest confidence was in Nasica； and it was for him he called； but
he not being there； he bewailed his misfortune； and； seeing there
was no possible remedy； surrendered himself to Octavius。 And here；
in particular； he made it manifest that he was possessed with a vice
more sordid than covetousness itself； namely； the fondness of life； by
which he deprived himself even of pity； the only thing that fortune
never takes away from the most wretched。 He desired to be brought to
Aemilius； who arose from his seat； and； accompanied with his
friends； went to receive him； with tears in his eyes； as a great man
fallen by the anger of the gods and his own ill…fortune； when Perseus…
the most shameful of sights… threw himself at his feet； embraced his
knees； and uttered unmanly cries and petitions； such as Aemilius was
not able to bear； nor would vouchsafe to hear： but looking on him with
a sad and angry countenance he said； 〃Why； unhappy man； do you thus
take pains to exonerate fortune of your heaviest charge against her；
by conduct that will make it seem that you are not unjustly in
calamity； and that it is not your present condition； but your former
happiness； that was more than your deserts？ And why depreciate also my
victory； and make my conquests insignificant； by proving yourself a
coward； and a foe beneath a Roman？ Distressed valour challenges
great respect； even from enemies； but cowardice； though never so
successful； from the Romans has always met with scorn。〃 Yet for all
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 peo