FLAMININUS
230？…174 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
WHAT Titus Quintius ＇Flamininus＇； whom we select as a parallel to
Philopoemen； was in personal appearance； those who are curious may see
by the brazen statue of him； which stands in Rome near that of the
great Apollo； brought from Carthage； opposite to the Circus Maximus；
with a Greek inscription upon it。 The temper of his mind is said to
have been of the warmest both in anger and in kindness； not indeed
equally so in both respects； as in punishing he was ever moderate；
never inflexible； but whatever courtesy or good turn he set about；
he went through with it； and was as perpetually kind and obliging to
those on whom he had poured his favours； as if they； not he； had
been the benefactors； exerting himself for the security and
preservation of what he seemed to consider his noblest possessions；
those to whom he had done good。 But being ever thirsty after honour；
and passionate for glory； if anything of a greater and more
extraordinary nature were to be done； he was eager to be the doer of
it himself； and took more pleasure in those that needed； than in those
that were capable of conferring favours； looking on the former as
objects for his virtue； and on the latter as competitors in glory。
＇The manuscripts generally write the name incorrectly…
Flaminius。 Titus was the name by which he was commonly known to the
Greeks＇。
Rome had then many sharp contests going on； and her youth betaking
themselves early to the wars； learned betimes the art of commanding；
and Flamininus； having passed through the rudiments of soldiery；
received his first charge in the war against Hannibal； as tribune
under Marcellus； then consul。 Marcellus； indeed； falling into an
ambuscade； was cut off。 But Titus； receiving the appointment of
governor； as well of Tarentum； then retaken； as of the country about
it； grew no less famous for his administration of justice； than for
his military skill。 This obtained him the office of leader and founder
of two colonies which were sent into the cities of Narnia and Cossa；
which filled him with loftier hopes； and made him aspire to step
over those previous honours which it was usual first to pass
through； the offices of tribune of the people； praetor and aedile； and
to level his aim immediately at the consulship。 Having these colonies；
and all their interest ready at his service； he offered himself as
candidate； but the tribunes of the people； Fulvius and ＇Manius＇ and
their party； strongly opposed him； alleging how unbecoming a thing
it was that a man of such raw years； one who was yet； as it were；
untrained； uninitiated in the first sacred rites and mysteries of
government； should； in contempt of the laws； intrude and force himself
into the sovereignty。
＇Manius Curius is meant＇。
However； the senate remitted it to the people's choice and suffrage；
who elected him （though not then arrived at his thirtieth year） consul
with Sextus Aelius。 The war against Philip and the Macedonians fell to
Titus by lot； and some kind fortune； propitious at that time to the
Romans； seems to have so determined it； as neither the people nor
the state of things which were now to be dealt with were such as to
require a general who would always be upon the point of force and mere
blows； but rather were accessible to persuasion and gentle usage。 It
is true that the kingdom of Macedon furnished supplies enough to
Philip for actual battle with the Romans； but to maintain a long and
lingering war he must call in aid from Greece； must thence procure his
supplies； there find his means of retreat； Greece； in a word； would be
his resource for all the requisites of his army。 Unless； therefore；
the Greeks could be withdrawn from siding with Philip； this war with
him must not expect its decision from a single battle。 Now Greece
（which had not hitherto held much correspondence with the Romans；
but first began an intercourse on this occasion） would not so soon
have embraced a foreign authority； instead of the commanders she had
been inured to； had not the general of these strangers been of a kind；
gentle nature； one who worked rather by fair means than force； of a
persuasive address in all applications to others； and no less
courteous and open to all addresses of others to him； and above all
bent and determined on justice。 But the story of his actions will best
illustrate these particulars。
Titus observed that both Sulpicius and Publius； who had been his
predecessors in that command； had not taken the field against the
Macedonians till late in the year； and then； too； had not set their
hands properly to the war； but had kept skirmishing and scouting
here and there for passes and provisions； and never came to close
fighting with Philip。 He resolved not to trifle away a year； as they
had done； at home in ostentation of the honour； and in domestic
administration； and only then to join the army； with the pitiful
hope of protracting the term of office through a second year； acting
as consul in the first； and as general in the latter。 He was；
moreover； infinitely desirous to employ his authority with effect upon
the war； which made him slight those home honours and prerogatives。
Requesting； therefore； of the senate； that his brother Lucius might
act with him as admiral of the navy； and taking with him to be the
edge； as it were； of the expedition three thousand still young and
vigorous soldiers； of those who； under Scipio； had defeated Asdrubal
in Spain； and Hannibal in Africa； he got safe into Epirus； and found
Publius encamped with his army； over against Philip； who had long made
good the pass over the river Apsus； and the straits there； Publius not
having been able； for the natural strength of the place； to effect
anything against him。 Titus therefore took upon himself the conduct of
the army； and； having dismissed Publius； examined the ground。 The
place is in strength not inferior to Tempe； though it lacks the
trees and green woods； and the pleasant meadows and walks that adorn
Tempe。 The Apsus； making its way between vast and lofty mountains
which all but meet above a single deep ravine in the midst； is not
unlike the river Peneus in the rapidity of its current and in its
general appearance。 It covers the foot of those hills； and leaves only
a craggy； narrow path cut out beside the stream； not easily passable
at any time for an army； but not at all when guarded by an enemy。
There were some； therefore； who would have had Titus make a
circuit through Dassaretis； and take an easy and safe road by the
district of Lyncus。 But he； fearing that if he should engage himself
too far from the sea in barren and untilled countries； and Philip
should decline fighting； he might； through want of provisions； be
constrained to march back again to the seaside without effecting
anything； as his predecessor had done before him； embraced the
resolution of forcing his way over the mountains。 But Philip； having
possessed himself of them with his army； showered down his darts and
arrows from all parts upon the Romans。 Sharp encounters took place；
and many fell wounded and slain on both sides； and there seemed but
little likelihood of thus ending the war； when some of the men； who
fed their cattle thereabouts； came to Titus with a discovery； that
there was a roundabout way which the enemy neglected to guard： through
which they undertook to conduct his army； and to bring it； within
three days at furthest； to the top of the hills。 To gain the surer
credit with him； they said that Charops； son of Machatas； a leading
man in Epirus； who was friendly to the Romans； and aided them （though；
for fear of Philip； secretly）； was privy to the design。 Titus gave
their information belief； and sent a captain with four thousand foot
and three hundred horse； these herdsmen being their guides； but kept
in bonds。 In the daytime they lay still under the covert of the hollow
and woody places； but in the night they marched by moonlight； the moon
being then at the full。 Titus； having detached this party； lay quiet
with his main body； merely keeping up the attention of the enemy by
some slight skirmishing。 But when the day arrived that those who stole
round were expected upon the top of the hill； he drew up his forces
early in the morning； as well the light…armed as the heavy； and；
dividing them into three parts； himself led the van； marching his
men up the narrow passage along the bank； darted at by the Macedonians
and engaging； in this difficult ground； hand to hand with his
assailants； whilst the other two divisions on either side of him threw
themselves with great alacrity among the rocks。 Whilst they were
struggling forward； the sun rose； and a thin smoke； like a mist；
hanging on the hills； was seen rising at a distance； unperceived by
the enemy； being behind them； as they stood on the heights； and the
Romans； also； as yet under suspense； in the toil and difficulty they
were in； could only doubtfully construe the sight according to their
desires。 But as it grew thicker and thicker； blackening the air； and
mounting to a greater height； they no longer doubted but it was the
fire…signal of their companions； and； raising a triumphant shout；
forcing their way onwards； they drove the enemy back into the roughest
ground； while the other party echoed back their acclamations from
the top of the mountain。
The Macedonians fled with all the speed they could make； there fell；
indeed； not more than two thousand of them； for the difficulties of
the place rescued them from pursuit。 But the Romans pillaged their
camp； seized upon their money and slaves； and； becoming absolute
masters of the pass； traversed all Epirus； but with such order and
discipline； with such temperance and moderation； that； though they
were far from the sea； at a great distance from their vessels； and
stinted of their monthly allowance of corn； and though they had much
difficulty in buying； they nevertheless abstained altogether from
plundering the country； which had provisions enough of al