Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 40
Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. and Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D., Ed.

11. “What do you think is the purpose of that letter which has just been sent to you by Titus Quinctius,¹ in which he says first that you took good care of your interests when you sent Demetrius to Rome, and then urges that you send him again, accompanied by a longer train of ambassadors and chieftains of the Macedonians? [2] Titus Quinctius is now his guide and teacher in all matters. You, his father, have been pushed aside, and he has chosen Quinctius to put in your place. There above all have secret plans been devised. [3] It is assistants in carrying out these plans that they are seeking, since he bids you send with him more Macedonians and chiefs of the state. Those who go to Rome from here sound and untainted, believing that they have Philip for [p. 35]their king, return from there stained and corrupted² by Roman enchantments. [4] Demetrius alone is everything to them, and even now, while his father is alive, they hail him as king. If I am indignant at these things, I must at once listen to the charge, not from others alone, but even from you, father, that I am coveting the throne! But for my part, if this charge is put forward openly, I do not admit its truth. [5] For whom am I removing from his proper place, that I may step into his place? Only my father is before me, and I pray the gods that he may long be there. [6] Should I survive —and may I so behave that he may himself wish me to survive, if I deserve it —I shall receive the inheritance of the kingship if my father will hand it on to me. [7] He covets the throne and indeed covets it to the point of crime, since he hastens to leap over precedence in age, in nature, the usage of the Macedonians, the law of nations. ' My elder brother' says Demetrius, 'stands in my way, to whom the kingdom belongs by law and also by our father's wish. [8] Let him be removed: I shall not have been the first to seek a kingdom by murdering a brother. Our father, an old man and lonely, bereaved of his son, will fear too much for himself to avenge the death of his son. [9] The Romans will rejoice, will applaud, will defend my act.' [10] Such hopes, father, are uncertain but not groundless. For such is the situation: you can avert the peril to my life by punishing those who have armed themselves against me; if success attends their crime, you yourself will be unable to avenge my death.”