Philip Hears of Thrasymene
Accordingly, when he heard that the galleys of
Scerdilaidas were committing acts of piracy off Malea, and
treating all merchants as open enemies, and had treacherously
seized some of his own vessels which were at anchor at
Leucas, he fitted out twelve decked ships, eight open
vessels, and thirty light craft called hemioliae,
1 and sailed
through the Euripus in hot haste to come up with the
Illyrians; exceedingly excited about his plans for carrying on the war against the Aetolians, as he knew nothing as
yet of what had happened in
Italy. For the defeat of the
Romans by Hannibal in Etruria took place while Philip was
besieging
Thebes, but the report of that occurrence had not
yet reached
Greece. Philip arrived too late to capture the
galleys: and therefore, dropping anchor at Cenchreae, he sent
away his decked ships, with orders to sail round Malea in the
direction of Aegium and
Patrae; but having caused the rest of
his vessels to be dragged across the Isthmus, he ordered
them to anchor at Lechaeum; while he went in haste with his
friends to
Argos to attend the Nemean festival.
Nemean festival. Midsummer of B. C. 217. |
Just as he was engaged in watching the gymnastic contest, a courier arrived from
Macedonia
with news of the Romans having been defeated in a great battle,
and of Hannibal being in possession of the open
country.
Philip hears of the Battle of Thrasymene, 22d June. |
Philip showed the letter to no one at
the moment, except to Demetrius of Pharos,
enjoining him not to say a word. The latter seized the
occasion to advise Philip to throw over the war against the
Aetolians as soon as possible; and to concentrate his efforts
upon
Illyria, and an expedition into
Italy. "For Greece," said
he, "is already entirely obedient to you, and will remain so:
the Achaeans from genuine affection; the Aetolians from the
with terror which their disasters in the present war have inspired
them.
Italy, and your crossing into it, is the first step in the
acquirement of universal empire, to which no one has a better
claim than yourself. And now is the moment to act when
the Romans have suffered a reverse."
