Aemilius Paulus

Thus Fortune, postponing to another season her jealous displeasure at the great success of Aemilius, restored to him then in all completeness his pleasure in his victory.[*](The battle of Pydna is described by Livy in xliv. 36-41.)

But Perseus was away in flight from Pydna to Pella, since practically all his horsemen came safely off from the battle.

But when his footmen overtook his horsemen, and, abusing them as cowards and traitors, tried to push them from their horses and fell to beating them, the king, afraid of the tumult, turned his horse out of the road, drew his purple robe round and held it in front of him, that he might not be conspicuous, and carried his diadem in his hands.

And in order that he might also converse with his companions as he walked, he dismounted from his horse and led him along.

But of these companions, one pretended that he must fasten a shoe that had become loose, another that he must water his horse, another that he himself wanted water to drink, and so they gradually lagged behind and ran away, because they had more fear of his cruelty than of the enemy.

For he was lacerated by his misfortunes, and sought to turn the responsibility for his defeat away from himself and upon everybody else.