The Spartan Exiles Refused
THE ambassadors from the Spartan exiles and from the
note
Achaeans arrived in Rome simultaneously
with those of Eumenes, king Ariarathes, and
Pharnaces; and the Senate attended to these
latter first. A short time previously a report
had been made to the Senate by Marcus, note who
had been despatched on a mission respecting
the war that had broken out between Eumenes
and Pharnaces, speaking highly of the moderation of Eumenes in every particular, and the
grasping temper and insolence of Pharnaces. The Senate
accordingly did not require any lengthened arguments; but,
after listening to the ambassadors, answered that they would
once more send legates to examine more minutely into the
points in dispute between the kings. Then came in the ambassadors from the Lacedaemonian exiles, and with them the
ambassadors from the citizens actually in the city; and after
giving them a long hearing, the Senate expressed no disapproval of what had been done, but promised the exiles to
write to the Achaeans on the subject of their restoration to
their country. Some days afterwards, Bippus of Argos and his
colleagues, sent by the Achaeans, entered the Senate with a
statement as to the restoration of order in Messene; and the
Senate, without showing displeasure at any part of the arrangement, gave the ambassadors a cordial reception. . . .
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