Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 42
Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. and Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D., Ed.

39. And for the time being Perseus retired¹ from Dium to the interior of his kingdom, a faint breath of hope presenting itself, because Marcius had said he had undertaken the embassy on Perseus' account; a few days later they met at the spot agreed upon. [2] The royal retinue was large, a crowd, both of friends and attendants, thronging about him. With no less a train came the envoys, for many escorted them from Larisa, besides the embassies of certain cities which had assembled at Larisa and wanted to report home facts which they had heard. [3] There was a desire, natural to mankind, to see the meeting of a famous king and the envoys of the people foremost in the whole world. [4] When they stood in sight of each other, with the river between, there was a brief delay for exchange of messages, as to which party should cross over. The one group felt that some consideration was due to the dignity of the king, the other group, to the reputation of the Roman people, especially since Perseus had sought the conference. [5] A jest from Marcius also influenced the undecided: “Let the younger,” said he, “cross over to his elders, and” —for his own personal² name was Philip —“the son to his father.” This solution easily recommended itself to the king. [6] Then another problem arose, as to how large an escort should cross with him. The king thought it proper to cross with his entire suite; the envoys bade him either to come with three attendants, or, if he should bring over so large a train, to give hostages that there would be no treachery during [p. 409]the conference. [7] He gave as hostages Hippias and³ Pantauchus, his leading friends, whom he had also sent as envoys. However, hostages were not desired so much as a pledge of good faith, as to show the allies that the king was meeting with the envoys on no terms of equality. [8] The greetings were not like those of enemies, but welcoming and kindly, and when seats had been placed, they sat down.