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Antiochus, then, had already crossed twice into Europe and arrived in Greece. But learning that Ptolemy had died, 2.303 and making it his chief object to master Egypt, he left his son Seleucus with a force in Lysimachia, while he himself set out; but learning that Ptolemy was alive, he refrained from Egypt, and having attempted to sail to Cyprus, he was thwarted by a storm, and returned home. And the Romans and he sent envoys back and forth, making accusations against each other, so that they might find a pretext for war and so that they might reconnoiter each other's situations. But Hannibal, having obtained the greatest of the offices among the Carthaginians, and having offended the most powerful men on account of it, was both hated by them and slandered to the Romans as one who was plotting revolution among the Carthaginians and communicating with Antiochus. And learning that some men from Rome were present, and fearing that he might be arrested, he fled from Carthage by night. And coming to Antiochus he worked for his own return to his fatherland and for the war against the Romans, promising that he would secure for him mastery of both Greece and Italy; until Scipio Africanus met with them. For this man, having been sent as an arbiter to Libya for Masinissa and the Carthaginians who were disputing over land boundaries, left their enmity in suspense, so that they might be at odds with each other and none of them might be angry with the Romans on account of the judgment. From there he crossed into Asia, in word as if to serve as an ambassador to Antiochus, but in deed so that by his appearance he might overawe both him and Hannibal and accomplish what was advantageous for the Romans. But when he arrived, Antiochus no longer paid attention to Hannibal in the same way; for he suspected him of having spoken with Scipio in secret, and 2.304 in other ways he was annoyed by him, because everyone was attributing every plan to Hannibal and everyone was hoping for the successful outcome of the war in him. For these reasons, then, he both envied Hannibal and feared him lest, having gained power, he might bring about a change; and he neither provided an army for him nor sent him to Carthage; nor did he make constant use of him in his councils, but even took pains that none of the things being done should seem to be his. The great rumor concerning Antiochus seized Rome and placed the Romans in no small state of anxiety. And as many rumors were being spread about Antiochus, some spreading the story that he already held all of Greece, others that he was hastening toward Italy, the Romans sent ambassadors to Greece, among them Flamininus who was friendly toward them, so that he might restrain both Philip and those others from making any innovations, and generals, Marcus Baebius to Apollonia, in case Antiochus should dare to cross over to Italy by this route, and Aulus Atilius against Nabis. And this man accomplished nothing, for Nabis was already destroyed by the Aetolians through a plot, and Sparta was captured by the Achaeans, but Baebius and Philip secured many parts of Thessaly. For the Macedonian had abided by his agreements with the Romans, both for other reasons and because Antiochus had seized some of his territories in Thrace. And Flamininus, going about Greece, 2.305 persuaded some not even to revolt, and others who had already revolted he won over, except for the Aetolians and certain others. For they themselves had gone over to Antiochus and were uniting others, some willingly, but some even unwillingly. And Antiochus, although it was winter, nevertheless hastened because of the hopes of the Aetolians; for which reason he did not bring a force worthy of battle. However, he took Chalcis with them, and won over the rest of Euboea. And finding some Romans among the captives, he released them all. And he wintered in Chalcis; from which place he himself and his generals and his soldiers were corrupted in their resolve beforehand. For by other ease and by love for a certain girl he drifted into a luxurious way of life, and made the others unwarlike. But those in Rome, learning that he was present in Greece and had taken Chalcis, the