Callicrates retired after speaking in these or similar terms.
The exiles entered next, and, after stating their case in a few words and making a general appeal for compassion, withdrew.
The senate, thinking that what Callicrates had said was in their interest, and learning from him that they should exalt those who supported their decrees and humble those who opposed them, now first began the policy of weakening those members of the several states who worked for the best, and of strengthening those, who, no matter whether rightly or wrongly, appealed to its authority.
The consequence of this was that gradually, as time went on, they had plenty of flatterers but very few true friends.
They actually went so far on the present occasion as to write not only to the Achaeans on the subject of the return of the exiles, begging them to contribute to strengthening the position of these men, but to the Aetolians, Epirots, Athenians, Boeotians, and Acarnanians, calling them all as it were to witness as if for the express purpose of crushing the Achaeans.
Speaking of Callicrates alone with no mention of the other envoys, they wrote in their official answer that there ought to be more men in the several states like Callicrates.
He now returned to Greece with this answer in high spirits, quite unaware that he had been the initiator of great calamities for all Greece, and especially for the Achaeans.
For it was still possible for the Achaeans even at this period to deal with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> on more or less equal terms, as they had remained faithful to her ever since they had taken her part in the most important times — I mean the wars with Philip and Antiochus —
but now after the Achaean League had become stronger and most prosperous than at any time recorded in history, this effrontery of Callicrates was the beginning of a change for the worse. . . .
The Romans are men, and with their noble disposition and high principles pity all who are in misfortune and appeal to them;
but, when anyone who has remained true to them reminds them of the claims of justice, they usually draw back and correct themselves as far as they can.
On the present occasion Callicrates, who had been sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> to state the just claims of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>, did exactly the opposite, and having dragged in the Messenian question, about which the Romans did not even raise any complaint, returned to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> armed with threats of Roman displeasure.
By his report he overawed and crushed the spirits of the people, who were perfectly ignorant of the words he had actually used in the Senate; first of all he was elected strategus, taking bribes in addition to all his other misconduct,
and next, on entering upon office, brought back the Spartan and Messenian exiles.
Walbank Commentary