History of Rome

​Meanwhile, the consul also, lest he should sit idle only in the enemy’s territory, sent Marcus Popilius with five thousand soldiers to attack the city of Meliboea.

​It is situated at the foot of Mount Ossa, on the side where it slopes into Thessaly, conveniently overlooking Demetrias.

​The first arrival of the enemy terrified the inhabitants of the place; then, recovering their spirits from the unexpected fear, the armed men ran to the gates and walls, where attacks were suspected, and immediately cut off the hope that the city could be taken by the first assault.

​A siege, therefore, was being prepared, and works for the assault began to be constructed. When Perseus heard both that Meliboea was being besieged by the consul’s army and that the fleet was standing at Iolcos in order to attack Demetrias from there, he sent Euphranor, one of his commanders, with two thousand select men to Meliboea.

​The same man was ordered that, if he should have removed the Romans from Meliboea, he should enter Demetrias by a secret route before the Romans moved their camp from Iolcos to the city.

​And by the besiegers of Meliboea, when he suddenly appeared on the higher ground, the works were abandoned with great trepidation and fire was set to them. Thus there was a withdrawal from Meliboea.

​Euphranor, having raised the siege of one city, immediately led his force to Demetrias. He entered the walls by night and inspired such confidence in the inhabitants that they trusted they could protect not only the walls but also the fields from depredations; and sallies were made against the scattered plunderers, not without wounding the enemy.

​Nevertheless, the praetor and the king sailed around the walls, contemplating the situation of the city, to see if they could attempt it in any part either by siege-works or by force.

​There was a rumor that, through Cydas the Cretan and Antimachus, who was in command of Demetrias, terms of friendship had been negotiated between Eumenes and Perseus.

​At all events, they withdrew from Demetrias. Eumenes sailed to the consul; and having congratulated him because he [the consul] had entered Macedonia successfully, he departed to his kingdom at Pergamum.

​The praetor Marcius Figulus, having sent part of the fleet to Sciathus for winter quarters, made for Oreus in Euboea with the remaining ships, thinking that city most suitable from which supplies could be sent to the armies that were in Macedonia and in Thessaly.

​About King Eumenes, far different accounts are handed down. If you believe Valerius Antias, he relates that the praetor was not assisted by him with the fleet, although he had often summoned him by letters, and that he set out for Asia from the consul without goodwill, being indignant because it had not been permitted for him to pitch his tents in the same camp;

​and that it could not even be obtained from him that he should leave the Gallic cavalry, whom he had brought with him.

​But that his brother Attalus both remained with the consul, and that his sincere fidelity was of an equal tenor and his service outstanding in that war.