§26.31.1reductis in curiam legatis tum consul “non adeo maiestatis” inquit “populi Romani imperiique huius oblitus sum, patres conscripti, ut, si de meo crimine ambigeretur, consul dicturus causam accusantibus Graecis fuerim.
When the envoys had been brought back into the senate house, the consul then said: 'I have not so far forgotten the majesty of the Roman people and of this empire, conscript fathers, that, if there were a doubt concerning a charge against me, I, as consul, would have been prepared to plead my cause against Greek accusers.
§26.31.2sed non quid ego fecerim in disquisitionem venit, — nam quidquid in hostibus feci ius belli defendit —, sed quid isti pati debuerint.
But it is not what I did that comes into question—for whatever I did against enemies, the law of war defends—but what they ought to have suffered.
qui si non fuerunt hostes, nihil interest, nunc an vivo Hierone Syracusas violaverim.
If they were not enemies, it makes no difference whether I violated Syracuse now or while Hiero was alive.
§26.31.3sin autem desciverunt a populo Romano, legatos nostros ferro atque armis petierunt, urbem ac moenia clausernnt, exercituque Carthaginiensium adversus nos tutati sunt, quis passos esse hostilia, cum fecerint, indignatur?
But if they defected from the Roman people, attacked our envoys with arms and weapons, closed their city and walls, and defended themselves against us with an army of Carthaginians, who is indignant that they suffered hostile treatment, since they committed hostile acts?
§26.31.4tradentis urbem principes Syracusanorum aversatus sum; Sosim et Moericum Hispanum, quibus tantam rem crederem, potiores habui.
I turned away the leaders of the Syracusans who were offering to surrender the city (you say); I preferred Sosis and Moericus the Spaniard, as men to whom I might entrust so great a matter.
non estis extremi Syracusanorum, quippe qui aliis humilitatem obiciatis: quis est vestrum, §26.31.5qui se mihi portas aperturum, qui armatos milites meos in urbem accepturum promiserit? odistis et exsecramini eos, qui fecerunt, et ne hic quidem contumeliis in eos dicendis parcitis: tantum abest, ut et ipsi tale quicquam facturi fueritis.
You are not the lowest of the Syracusans, since you reproach others with their low birth; who is there among you, who promised that he would open the gates to me, or receive my armed soldiers into the city? You hate and execrate those who did so, and not even here do you spare them from verbal abuse; so far were you yourselves from being about to do any such thing.
§26.31.6ipsa humilitas eorum, patres conscripti, quam isti obiciunt, maximo argumento est me neminem, qui navatam operam rei publicae nostrae vellet, aversatum esse.
Their very lowliness, conscript fathers, which these men cast in their teeth, is the strongest proof that I turned away no one who wished to render active service to our republic.
§26.31.7et antequam obsiderem Syracusas, nunc legatis mittendis nunc ad conloquium eundo temptavi pacem; et posteaquam neque legatos violandi verecundia erat, nec mihi ipsi congresso ad portas cum principibus responsum dabatur, multis terra marique exhaustis laboribus tandem vi atque armis Syracusas cepi.
And before I besieged Syracuse, I attempted peace, now by sending envoys, now by going to a conference; and after there was no respect even for the safety of envoys, nor was any answer given to me myself when I met the leaders at the gates, I at length captured Syracuse by force of arms, after many hardships had been exhausted by land and sea.
§26.31.8quae captis acciderint, apud Hannibalem et Carthaginienses victos iustius quam apud victoris populi senatum quererentur.
What befell them when captured would be more justly complained of to Hannibal and the vanquished Carthaginians than to the senate of the victorious people.
§26.31.9ego patres conscripti, Syracusas spoliatas si negaturus essem, numquam spoliis earum urbem Romam exornarem.
If I, conscript fathers, were going to deny that Syracuse was despoiled, I would never have adorned the city of Rome with its spoils.
quae autem singulis victor aut ademi aut dedi, cum belli iure tum ex cuiusque merito satis scio me fecisse.
But as for what I, as victor, either took away from or gave to individuals, I know well that I did so both by the law of war and according to the merit of each.
§26.31.10ea vos rata habeatis, patres conscripti, necne, magis rei publicae interest quam mea.
Whether you ratify these acts, conscript fathers, or not, is of greater interest to the state than to me.
quippe mea fides exsoluta est; ad rem publicam pertinet, ne acta mea rescindendo alios in posterum segniores duces faciatis.
For my loyalty has been discharged; it concerns the state that, by rescinding my acts, you do not make other commanders more sluggish in the future.
§26.31.11et quoniam coram et Siculorum et mea verba audistis, patres conscripti, simul templo excedemus, ut me absente liberius consuli senatus possit. ” ita dimissi Siculi, et ipse in Capitolium ad dilectum discessit.
And since you have heard both the words of the Sicilians and my own in each other's presence, conscript fathers, we shall leave the temple together, so that in my absence the senate may be consulted more freely.' Thus the Sicilians were dismissed, and he himself departed to the Capitol for the levy.