<head>Antiochus approaches Prusias</head>King Antiochus, on returning to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardis&groupId=948&placeId=1686">Sardis</a> from the expedition I have described, sent frequent messages to Prusias
inviting him to enter into alliance with him. Prusias previously had not been disinclined to join Antiochus, for he was very much afraid of the Romans crossing to Asia with the object of deposing all the princes there.
But on a letter reaching him from the brothers Publius and Lucius Scipio, after having received and read it, he hesitated considerably
and foresaw tolerably well what would happen, as the Scipios in their communication employed many clear arguments in confirmation of their assertions.
For they not only pleaded their own policy but the universal policy of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>,
pointing out that not only had the Romans deprived no former prince of his kingdom, but had even themselves created some new kingdoms, and had augmented the power of other princes, making their dominion many times more extensive than formerly.
In <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> they cited the cases of Andobales and Colichas, in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> that of Massanissa, and that of Pleuratus in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a>;
all of whom they said they had made real and acknowledged kings out of petty and insignificant princelets.
In Greece itself they adduced the cases of Philip and Nabis. As for Philip, after they had crushed him in war and tied his hands by imposing hostages and tribute on him, no sooner had they received from him a slight proof of his goodwill than they had restored to him his son and the other young men who were held as hostages together with Demetrius; they had remitted the tribute and given him back many of the cities taken in the war.
And while they could have utterly annihilated Nabis, they had not done so, but spare him, although he was a tyrant, on receipt of the usual pledges.
They wrote begging Prusias, in view of this, not to be afraid about his kingdom, but confidently to take the side of the Romans, for he would never repent of his decision.
Prusias, then, after reading the letter, changed his mind, and when Gaius Livius also arrived on an embassy to him, after meeting that legate he entirely relinquished all hope in Antiochus.
Antiochus thus disappointed, proceeded to Ephesus, and calculating that the only way to prevent the enemy's army from crossing and generally avert the war from Asia was to obtain definite command of the sea, determined to give battle by sea and thus decide matters.
Walbank Commentary