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Roman alliance。
But now； when Philip sent an embassy to Rome； Titus despatched
away agents on his part； too； to solicit the senate； if they should
continue the war； to continue him in his command； or if they
determined an end to that； that he might have the honour of concluding
the peace。 Having a great passion for distinction； his fear was；
that if another general were commissioned to carry on the war； the
honour even of what was passed would be lost to him； and his friends
transacted matters so well on his behalf； that Philip was unsuccessful
in his proposals； and the management of the war was confirmed in his
hands。 He no sooner received the senate's determination； but； big with
hopes； he marched directly into Thessaly； to engage Philip； his army
consisting of twenty…six thousand men； out of which the Aetolians
furnished six thousand foot and four hundred horse。 The forces of
Philip were much about the same number。 In this eagerness to
encounter； they advanced against each other； till both were near
Scotussa； where they resolved to hazard a battle。 Nor had the approach
of these two formidable armies the effect that might have been
supposed； to strike into the generals a mutual terror of each other；
it rather inspired them with ardour and ambition； on the Romans' part；
to be the conquerors of Macedon； a name which Alexander had made
famous amongst them for strength and valour； whilst the Macedonians；
on the other hand； esteeming of the Romans as an enemy very
different from the Persians； hoped； if victory stood on their side； to
make the name of Philip more glorious than that of Alexander。 Titus；
therefore； called upon his soldiers to play the part of valiant men；
because they were now to act their parts upon the most illustrious
theatre of the world； Greece； and to contend with the bravest
antagonists。 And Philip； on the other side； commenced a harangue to
his men； as usual before an engagement； and to be the better heard
（whether it were merely a mischance； or the result of unseasonable
haste； not observing what he did）； mounted an eminence outside their
camp； which proved to be a burying…place； and much disturbed by the
despondency that seized his army at the unluckiness of the omen； all
that day kept in his camp； and declined fighting。
But on the morrow； as day came on； after a soft and rainy night； the
clouds changing into a mist filled all the plain with thick
darkness； and a dense foggy air descending； by the time it was full
day； from the adjacent mountains into the ground betwixt the two
camps； concealed them from each other's view。 The parties sent out
on either side； some for ambuscade； some for discovery； falling in
upon one another quickly after they were thus detached； began the
fight at what are called the Cynos Cephalae； a number of sharp tops of
hills that stand close to one another； and have the name from some
resemblance in their shape。 Now many vicissitudes and changes
happening； as may well be expected； in such an uneven field of battle；
sometimes hot pursuit； and sometimes as rapid a flight； the generals
on both sides kept sending in succours from the main bodies； as they
saw their men pressed or giving ground； till at length the heavens
clearing up； let them see what was going on； upon which the whole
armies engaged。 Philip； who was in the right wing； from the
advantage of the higher ground which he had； threw on the Romans the
whole weight of his phalanx； with a force which they were unable to
sustain； the dense array of spears； and the pressure of the compact
mass overpowering them。 But the king's left wing being broken up by
the hilliness of the place； Titus observing it； and cherishing
little or no hopes on that side where his own gave ground； makes in
all haste to the other； and there charges in upon the Macedonians；
who； in consequence of the inequality and roughness of the ground；
could not keep their phalanx entire； nor line their ranks to any great
depth （which is the great point of their strength）； but were forced to
fight man for man under heavy and unwieldy armour。 For the
Macedonian phalanx is like some single powerful animal； irresistible
so long as it is embodied into one； and keeps its order； shield
touching shield； all as in a piece； but if it be once broken； not only
is the joint force lost； but the individual soldiers also who composed
it lose each one his own single strength； because of the nature of
their armour； and because each of them is strong； rather； as he
makes a part of the whole； than in himself。 When these were routed；
some gave chase to the flyers； others charged the flanks of those
Macedonians who were still fighting； so that the conquering wing；
also； was quickly disordered； took to flight； and threw down its arms。
There were then slain no less than eight thousand； and about five
thousand were taken prisoners； and the Aetolians were blamed as having
been the main occasion that Philip himself got safe off。 For whilst
the Romans were in pursuit； they fell to ravaging and plundering the
camp； and did it so completely； that when the others returned； they
found no booty in it。
This bred at first hard words； quarrels； and misunderstandings
betwixt them。 But； afterwards； they galled Titus more by ascribing the
victory to themselves； and prepossessing the Greeks with reports to
that effect； insomuch that poets； and people in general in the songs
that were sung or written in honour of the action； still ranked the
Aetolians foremost。 One of the pieces most current was the following
epigram：…
〃Naked and tombless see； O passer…by；
The thirty thousand men of Thessaly；
Slain by the Aetolians and the Latin band；
That came with Titus from Italia's land；
Alas for mighty Macedon！ that day；
Swift as a roe； King Philip fled away。〃
This was composed by Alcaeus in mockery of Philip； exaggerating the
number of the slain。 However； being everywhere repeated； and by almost
everybody； Titus was more nettled at it than Philip。 The latter merely
retorted upon Alcaeus with some elegiac verses of his own：…
〃Naked and leafless see； O passer…by；
The cross that shall Alcaeus crucify。〃
But such little matters extremely fretted Titus； who was ambitious
of a reputation among the Greeks； and he therefore acted in all
after…occurrences by himself； paying but very slight regard to the
Aetolians。 This offended them in their turn； and when Titus listened
to terms of accommodation； and admitted an embassy upon the proffers
of the Macedonian king； the Aetolians made it their business to
publish through all the cities of Greece； that this was the conclusion
of all； that he was selling Philip a peace at a time when it was in
his hand to destroy the very roots of the war； and to overthrow the
power which had first inflicted servitude upon Greece。 But whilst with
these and the like rumours the Aetolians laboured to shake the Roman
confederates； Philip； making overtures of submission of himself and
his kingdom to the discretion of Titus and the Romans； put an end to
those jealousies； as Titus； by accepting them； did to the war。 Fo