<head>Conduct of Philip</head>Philip on his return voyage, committing one act of treachery after another, put in at about midday to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thasos&groupId=1020&placeId=1794">Thasos</a>, and though that city was friendly took it and enslaved the inhabitants . . . .
The Thasians told Metrodorus, Philip's general, that they would surrender the city if he would let them remain without a garrison, exempt from tribute, with no soldiers quartered on them and governed by their own laws . . . .
The reply was that Philip accede to this request upon which all present applauded and admitted Philip into the city . . . .
Perhaps it may be said of all kings that at the beginnings of their reigns they talk of freedom as of a gift they offer to all and style all those who are thus loyal adherents their friends and allies, but as soon as they have established their authority they at once begin to treat those who placed trust in them not as allies but as servants.
Therefore they are disappointed of any credit for noble conduct, though as a rule they do not miss their immediate interest.
But who would not qualify as perfectly irrational and insane the conduct of a prince, who, engaging in vast enterprises and aspiring to universal dominion, with his chances of success in all his projects still unimpaired, yet in matters of no moment, in the very first matters he was called upon to deal with, proclaimed to all his fickleness and faithlessness?
Walbank Commentary