Discussion of the Aetolian Congress
The Aetolian congress being summoned to meet them
at Thermum, they came before the assembled
people, and again delivered a speech in which
expressions of benevolence were mixed with
exhortations.
Various Aetolians accuse each other. |
But the real cause of summoning the congress
was to announce that the Aetolians must give
hostages. On their leaving the speakers' platform, Proandrus stood forward and desired
leave to mention certain services performed by himself to the
Romans, and to denounce those who accused
him.
Gaius thereupon rose; and, though he well
knew that Proandrus was opposed to Rome, he paid him some
compliments, and acknowledged the truth of everything he
had said.
After this, Lyciscus stood forward,
and, without accusing any one person by name,
yet cast suspicion on a great many. For he said that "The
Romans had been quite right to arrest the ringleaders and
take them to Rome" (whereby he meant Eupolemus, Nicander, and the rest): "but members of their party still remained
in Aetolia, all of whom ought to meet with the same correction,
unless they gave up their children as hostages to the Romans."
In these words he meant to point especially to Archedamus
and Pantaleon; and, accordingly, when he retired, Pantaleon
stood up, and, after a brief denunciation of
Lyciscus for his shameless and despicable flattery
of the stronger side, turned to Thoas, conceiving him to be the
man whose accusations of himself obtained the greater credit
from the fact that he had never been supposed to be at enmity with him. He reminded Thoas first of the events in
the time of Antiochus; and then reproached him for ingratitude to himself, because, when he had been surrendered to
Rome, he obtained an unexpected release at the intercession
of Nicander and himself. He ended by calling upon the
Aetolians, not only to hoot Thoas down if he tried to speak,
but to join with one accord in stoning him.
This was done;
and Gaius, after administering a brief reproof
to the Aetolians for stoning Thoas, departed
with his colleague to Acarnania, without any more being said
about hostages. Aetolia, however, was filled with mutual
suspicions and violent factions.