History of Rome (Complete)

by Livy

When they appeared before the consul, Phaeneas, the head of the deputation, made a long speech, adapted in various ways to mitigate the victor’s wrath, and concluded by saying that the Aetolians committed themselves and all that they had to the honour and good faith of the people of Rome. When the consul heard that he said, “Be quite sure that these are the terms on which you surrender.” Phaeneas showed him the decree in which they were expressly stated. “Since then,” he replied, “you do make this complete surrender, I require you to give up at once Dicaearchus, your fellow-citizen, and Menestus the Epirote” - he was the man who introduced a body of troops into Naupactus and drove the citizens into revolt - “and Amynander and the Athamanian leaders who persuaded you to revolt from us.” Phaeneas hardly allowed the Roman to finish his sentence before he replied: “We have not surrendered ourselves into slavery, but to your protection and good faith, and I am quite sure that it is because you do not know us that you lay upon us commands which are opposed to the usage of the Greeks.” To this the consul retorted: “No, I do not trouble myself much as to what the Aetolians consider the usage of the Greeks as long as I follow the usage of the Romans and impose my commands on those who, after being vanquished by force of arms, have just surrendered by their own formal decree. If, then, my command is not promptly obeyed, I shall at once order you to be thrown into irons.”