27.  The consul, Sulpicius, who was at that time encamped; on the river Apsus, between Apollonia and Dyrrachium, having ordered Lucius Apustius, lieutenant-general, thither, sent him with part of the forces to lay waste the enemy’s territory.  Apustius, after ravaging the frontiers of Macedonia, and having, at the first assault, taken the forts of Corragos, Gerrunios, and Orgessos, came to Antipatria, a city situated in a narrow gorge; where, at first inviting the leading men to a conference, he endeavoured to entice them to commit themselves to the good faith of the Romans; but finding that from confidence in the size, fortifications, and situation of their city, they paid no regard to his discourse, he attacked the place by force of arms, and took it by assault:  then, putting all the young men to death, and giving up the entire spoil to his soldiers, he razed the walls and burned the city.  This proceeding spread such terror, that Codrion, a strong and well-fortified town, surrendered to the Romans without a struggle.  Leaving a garrison there, he took Ilion by force, a name better known than the town, on account of that of the same name in Asia.  As the lieutenant-general was returning to the consul with a great quantity of spoil, Athenagoras, one of the king’s generals, falling on his extreme rear, in its passage over a river, threw the hindmost into disorder.  On hearing the shouting and tumult, Apustius rode back in full speed, ordered the troops to face about, and drew them up in order, arranging the baggage in the centre.  The king’s troops could not support the onset of the Roman soldiers, many of them were slain, and more made prisoners.  The lieutenant-general, having brought back the army without loss to the consul, was despatched immediately to the fleet.

28.  The war commencing thus brilliantly with this successful expedition, several petty kings and princes, neighbours of the Macedonians, came to the Roman camp:  Pleuratus, son of Scerdilaedus, and Amynander, king of the Athamanians; and from the Dardanians, Bato, son of Longarus.  This Longarus had, in his own quarrel, supported a war against Demetrius, father of Philip.  To their offers of aid, the consul answered, that he would make use of the assistance of the Dardanians, and of Pleuratus, when he should lead his troops into Macedonia.  To Amynander he allotted the part of exciting the Aetolians to war.  To the ambassadors of Attalus, (for they also had come at the same time,) he gave directions that the king should wait at Aegina, where he wintered, for the arrival of the Roman fleet; and when joined by that, he should, as before, harass Philip with attacks by sea.  To the Rhodians, also, an embassy was sent, to engage them to contribute their share towards carrying on the war.  Nor was Philip, who had by this time arrived in Macedonia, remiss in his preparations for the campaign.  He sent his son Perseus, then very young, with part of his forces to block up the pass near Pelagonia, appointing persons out of the number of his friends to direct his inexperienced age.  Sciathus and Peparethus, no inconsiderable cities, he demolished, lest they should become a prey and prize to the enemy’s fleet; despatching at the same time ambassadors to the Aetolians, lest that restless nation might change sides on the arrival of the Romans.