Perseus fled to the Pierian forest, accompanied by his suite and a numerous body of cavalry. [2] When he had entered the forest at a point where several roads diverged, as night was approaching he struck into a side-path with a very small body of those most faithful to him. [3] The cavalry, left without a leader, dispersed to their various cities; and a few reached Pella in advance of Perseus himself, having gone by a straight road. [4] Up to midnight the king had considerable trouble and anxiety in trying to find his way. [5] Eulacus and Euctus and the royal pages were ready to meet the king in the gloomy palace, but of all his friends who had lived through the battle and regained Pella, not one came to him in spite of his repeated invitations. There were only three who shared his flight, Euander of Crete, Neo a Boeotian, and Archidamus the Aetolian. [6] Fearing that those who refused to go to him might soon venture [7??] upon a more serious step, he fled away at the fourth watch, followed by certainly not more than 500 Cretans. [8] He was intending to go to Amphipolis, but he had left Pella in the night, anxious to cross the Axius before daylight, as he thought the difficulty of crossing that river might stop the Roman pursuit.
