The Aetolians Seek a Truce
When the Romans took Heracleia, Phaeneas the
note
Aetolian Strategus, in view of the danger
threatening Aetolia, and seeing what would
happen to the other towns, determined to send
an embassy to Manius Acilius to demand a
truce and treaty of peace. With this purpose
he despatched Archidamus, Pantaleon and
Chalesus, who on meeting the Roman consul were intending
to enter upon a long argument, but were interrupted in the
middle of their speech and prevented from finishing it. note For
Acilius remarked that "For the present he had
no leisure to attend to them, being much engaged
with the distribution of the spoils of Heracleia:
he would, however, grant a ten days' truce and send Lucius
Valerius Flaccus with them, with instructions as to what he
was to say." The truce being thus made, and Valerius having
come to Hypata, a lengthened discussion took place on the
state of affairs. The Aetolians sought to establish their case
by referring to their previous services to Rome. But Valerius
cut this line of argument short by saying that "Such justification did not apply to the present circumstances; for as these
old friendly relations had been broken off by them, and the
existing hostility was owing entirely to the Aetolians themselves,
the services of the past could be of no assistance to them in
the present. They must therefore abandon all idea of justification, and adopt a tone of supplication, and beseech the consul's
pardon for their transgressions." After a long discussion on
various details, the Aetolians eventually decided to leave the
whole matter to Acilius, and commit themselves without reserve
to the good faith of the Romans. They had no comprehension
of what this really involved; but they were misled by the
word "faith" into supposing that the Romans would thereby
be more inclined to grant them terms. But with the Romans
for a man "to commit himself to their good faith" is held to
be equivalent to "surrendering unconditionally."
