Roman Commissioners Visit Attalus and Prusias
All the previous winter Attalus had been busy collecting
The commissioners visit Attalus and Prusias early in B. C. 154. |
a large army, Ariarathes and Mithridates having
sent him a force of cavalry and infantry, in
accordance with the terms of their alliance with
him. While he was still engaged in these preparations the ten commissioners arrived from
Rome: who, after meeting and conferring with him at Cadi
about the business, started to visit Prusias, to whom on meeting him they explained the orders of the Senate in terms of
serious warning. Prusias at once yielded to some of the
injunctions, but refused to submit to the greater part. The
Romans grew angry, renounced his friendship
and alliance, and one and all started to return
to Attalus.
Prusias will not yield till too late. |
Thereupon Prusias repented; followed them a certain distance with vehement entreaties; but,
failing to gain any concession, left them in a state of great
doubt and embarrassment.
The Romans promote a combination against Prusias. |
The Romans, on their return to
Attalus, bade him station himself with his army
on his own frontier, and not to begin the war
himself, but to provide for the security of the
towns and villages in his territory: while they
divided themselves, one party sailing home with all speed to
announce to the Senate the disobedience of Prusias; another
departing for Ionia; and a third to the Hellespont and the
ports about Byzantium, all with one and the same purpose,
namely, to detach the inhabitants from friendship and alliance
with Prusias, and to persuade them to adhere to Attalus and
assist him to the best of their power. . . .