§24.28.1in hac turbatione rerum in contionem vocari placuit.
In this confusion of affairs, it was decided to call an assembly.
ubi cum alii alio tenderent nec procul seditione res esset, Apollonides principum unus orationem salutarem ut in tali tempore habuit: §24.28.2nec spem salutis nec perniciem propiorem umquam civitati ulli fuisse. §24.28.3si enim uno animo omnes vel ad Romanos vel ad Carthaginienses inclinent, nullius civitatis statum fortunatiorem ac beatiorem fore; §24.28.4si alii alio trahant res, non inter Poenos Romanosque bellum atrocius fore quam inter ipsos Syracusanos, cum intra eosdem muros pars utraque suos exercitus, sua arma, suos habitura sit duces.
There, while some were turning in one direction and others in another, and the situation was not far from a riot, Apollonides, one of the leading men, delivered a salutary speech, as was to be expected in such a time: that never had there been either hope of safety or destruction closer to any state; for if all should incline with one mind either to the Romans or to the Carthaginians, the condition of no state would be more fortunate and blessed; but if some should drag matters in one direction and others in another, the war between the Carthaginians and the Romans would not be more atrocious than that among the Syracusans themselves, since within the same walls each party would have its own armies, its own weapons, and its own leaders.
§24.28.5itaque, ut idem omnes sentiant, summa vi agendum esse.
Therefore, they must act with the greatest force so that all might feel the same.
utra societas sit utilior, eam longe minorem ac levioris momenti consultationem esse; §24.28.6sed tamen Hieronis potius quam Hieronymi auctoritatem sequendam in sociis legendis, vel quinquaginta annis feliciter expertam amicitiam nunc incognitae, quondam infideli praeferendam.
Which alliance was more useful was a far smaller consultation and of lighter importance; but nevertheless, in choosing allies, the authority of Hiero rather than that of Hieronymus ought to be followed, and a friendship happily experienced for fifty years was to be preferred to one now unknown, and formerly faithless.
§24.28.7esse etiam momenti aliquid ad consilium, quod Carthaginiensibus ita pax negari possit, ut non utique in praesentia bellum cuba eis geratur: cum Romanis extemplo aut pacem aut bellum habendum.
There was also some weight for their decision in the fact that peace could be denied to the Carthaginians in such a way that war would not by all means be waged with them at present, whereas with the Romans they must immediately have either peace or war.
§24.28.8quo minus cupiditatis ac studii visa est oratio habere, eo plus auctoritatis habuit.
The less self-interest and party-spirit the speech seemed to have, the more authority it obtained.
adiectum est praetoribus ac delectis senatorum militare etiam consilium, iussi et duces ordinum praefectique auxiliorum simul consulere.
To the praetors and the select senators a military council also was added; the commanders of the companies and the prefects of the auxiliaries were also ordered to consult together with them.
§24.28.9cum saepe acta res esset magnis certaminibus, postremo, quia belli cum Romanis gerendi ratio nulla apparebat, pacem fieri placuit cum eis mittique legatos ad rem confirmandam.
When the matter had been discussed often with great disputes, at last, because no plan for waging war with the Romans appeared feasible, it was decided that peace should be made with them and that envoys should be sent to confirm the matter.