Diodorus Siculus

FRAGMENTS - The Library of History




Page 756 design'd so wicked a Fact. For it happn'd about that time the Carthaginian Ambassadors were returning from Rome, and were driven by a Storm into the midst of the Roman Fleet, and brought to Scipio; and when all cry'd out to retaliate the wickdness of the other upon the Heads of the Ambassadors that were then taken, Scipio utterly refus'd, saying, That they themselves ought not to do that, for which they blam'd the Carthaginians. They were therefore all discharg'd, and came safe to Carthage, and highly extoll'd the Piety of the Romans.

21. Philip King of Macedon persuaded Dicaeardus the Aetolian, a daring Man, to act the Pirate at Sea, and to that end deliver'd to him Twenty Ships, with order to exact Tribute from the Islands, and assist the Cretians against Rhodes; Hereupon, according to his Orders, he robb'd and spoil'd the Merchants, and wasting the Islands, screw'd abundance of Money from them.

22. Philip the Macedonian King had with him one Heraclides a Tarrentine a wicked fellow, that in private was always buzzing him in the Ears with Calumnies and false Accusations against Philip's best Friends, and egg'd him on at length to that height of Impiety, that he put to death five of the Senators; so that King Philip's Affairs by degrees declin'd and went worse and worse: For undertaking Wars frivolously and unnecessarily, he was in danger to have lost his whole Kingdom to the Romans: for none of his Friends durst speak any more freely to him, or advise him, all fearing his stubborn and haughty Humour. He made War likewise upon the Dardanians without the least provocation given him, and kill'd 10000 of them in a Battle.

23. This Philip King of Macedon, besides his rooted Covetousness, was so lifted up with his prosperous Successes, that he put his friends to death without any legal Trial or just Cause, and robb'd and spoil'd the Temples and Sepulchres. In like manner Antiochus attempting to rob the Temple of Jupiter in Aelymais there receiv'd a just Overthrow with the loss of his Life and Ruine of his whole Army; And both of them conceiting their Armies were Unconquerable, lost all in one Battle, and were forc'd to receive Laws impos'd upon them by others; and imputed their Misfortunes to their own Miscarriages, and acknowledg'd themselves beholding to the Humanity and Generosity of the Victors, for the pardon of their Offences; and according to the desert of their own wicked Actions, they saw their Kingdoms, through the Anger of the Gods, grievously plagu'd and aflicted. But the Romans then, and ever after, beginning no Wars but upon just and Honourable Terms, and having a Sacred Regard to their Leagues and Oaths, were always deservedly assisted in all their Councils and Designs by the Gods.

24. The same Philip being in extream want of Provision, continually wasted and spoil'd the Country of Attalus, up to the very Gates of of Pergamena. He ruin'd likewise the Temples in the Suburbs of Pergamus, especially Nicephorus that was exceeding Rich. Besides several other sumptuous Fabricks; for out of hatred against Attalus, because he could not catch him, he executed his Rage upon these places.

25. Philip entring into Attica encamp'd at Cynosarges, and afterwards burnt Acadamia, demolisht the Sepulchres, and robb'd the Temples of the Gods, and gratifying his Rage and Fury, as if he had been only incens'd against the People of Athens, and not against the Gods themselves, as he was spoke ill of before, so he was now hated of all, and in a short time he was overtaken by the Vengeance of the Gods, for he was near being ruin'd by his own imprudence, but preserv'd by the Clemency of the Romans.

26. Philip discerning he was hated by almost all the Macedonians, for his kindness to Heraclides, put him in Prison. This Heraclides was a Tarrentine, a notorious wicked fellow, who from a mild and gentle Prince, chang'd Philip into a fierce and cruel Tyrant, and therefore * he was exceedingly hated by all the Grecians, as well as the Macedonians.

27. The Name and Fame of Hannibal, was nois'd over all the World, and therefore in every City and Town where ever he came, they came in great Multitudes to look at him.

28. Ptolemy King of Aegypt, for some time Reign'd with great Commendation: But afterwards corrupted by Parasites, he began to have an evil Eye towards his Tutor Aristomenes, for his freedom in telling him of his faults, who had all along manag'd every thing with great prudence, and whose advice Philip had before follow'd as his Father; but at length he sent him out of the World, by forcing him to drink off a Cup of Poyson. From that time growing more and more fierce, and raging, making use of Tyrannical cruelty, and not of Regal Authority, he was hated by the Aegyptians, and not far off from the loss of his Kingdom.

29. Ther's a Temple not far off from Chalcis, call'd. Delium; * where a considerable





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