Perseus Sends Pleuratus to Genthius
Perseus sent Pleuratus the Illyrian, an exile living at his
court, and Adaeus of Beroea on a mission to
king Genthius, with instructions to inform him
of what he had achieved in his war with the
Romans, Dardani, Epirotes, and Illyrians up to
the present time; and to urge him to make a
friendship and alliance with him in Macedonia.
These envoys journeyed beyond Mount Scardus,
through Illyria Deserta, as it is called,—a region
a short time back depopulated by the Macedonians, in order
to make an invasion of Illyria and Macedonia difficult for the
Dardani. Their journey through this region was accompanied
by much suffering; but they reached Scodra, and being there
informed that Genthius was at Lissus, they sent a message to
him. He promptly responded: and having been admitted to an
interview with him, they discussed the business
to which their instructions referred.
had no wish to forfeit the friendship of Perseus;
but he alleged want of means as an excuse for not complying
with the request at once, and his inability to undertake a war
with Rome without money. With this answer, Adaeus and his
colleagues returned home. Meanwhile Perseus arrived at
Stubera, and sold the booty and gave his army a rest while
waiting for the return of Pleuratus and Adaeus.
A second mission to Genthius.
arrival with the answer from Genthius, he immediately sent another mission, consisting again of
Adaeus, Glaucias, one of his body-guards, and
the Illyrian (Pleuratus) also, because he knew the Illyrian language, with the same instructions as before: on the ground that
Genthius had not stated distinctly what he
wanted, and what would enable him to consent
to the proposals.
Perseus goes back to Hyscana in Illyria.
When these envoys had
started the king himself removed with his army to Hyscana.1
. . .