§28.39.1tum Saguntinorum legatos in senatum introduxit.
Then he introduced the envoys of the Saguntines into the Senate.
ex eis maximus natu: “etsi nihil ultra malorum est, patres conscripti, quam quod passi sumus, ut ad ultimum fidem vobis praestaremus, tamen ea vestra merita imperatorumque vestrorum erga nos fuerunt, ut nos cladium nostrarum non paeniteat.
The eldest of them said: "Although there is no greater evil, conscript fathers, than what we suffered in order to prove our loyalty to you to the very end, yet such were your merits and those of your generals toward us that we do not regret our disasters.
§28.39.2bellum propter nos suscepistis, susceptum quartum decimum annum tam pertinaciter geritis, ut saepe ad ultimum discrimen et ipsi veneritis et populum Carthaginiensem adduxeritis.
You undertook the war on our account, and having undertaken it, you are carrying it on for the fourteenth year so persistently that you yourselves have often come to the ultimate hazard and have brought the Carthaginian people to it.
§28.39.3cum in Italia tam atrox bellum et Hannibalem hostem haberetis, consulem cum exercitu in Hispaniam velut ad conligendas reliquias naufragii nostri misistis.
When you had so terrible a war in Italy and Hannibal as an enemy, you sent a consul with an army to Spain, as if to gather up the remains of our shipwreck.
§28.39.4P. et Cn.
P. and Cn.
Cornelii ex quo in provinciam venerunt, nullo tempore destiterunt, quae nobis secunda quaeque adversa hostibus nostris essent, facere.
Cornelius, from the time they came into the province, never ceased at any time to do what would be advantageous to us and adverse to our enemies.
§28.39.5iam omnium primum oppidum nobis restituerunt, per omnem Hispaniam cives nostros venum datos, dimissis qui conquirerent, ex servitute in libertatem restituerunt.
First of all, they restored our town to us; and having sent out people to search, they restored our citizens, who had been sold throughout all Spain, from slavery to freedom.
§28.39.6cum iam prope esset ut optabilem ex miserrima fortunam haberemus, P. et Cn.
When we were already on the point of having a desirable fortune instead of a most wretched one, your generals P. and Cn.
Cornelii imperatores vestri luctuosius nobis prope quam vobis perierunt.
Cornelius perished, almost more lamentably for us than for you.
§28.39.7tum vero ad hoc retracti ex distantibus locis in sedem antiquam videbamur, ut iterum periremus et alterum excidium patriae videremus, §28.39.8nec ad perniciem nostram Carthaginiensi utique aut duce aut exercitu opus esse; ab Turdulis nos, veterrimis hostibus, qui prioris quoque excidii causa nobis fuerant, extingui posse:
Then indeed, brought back from distant places to our ancient seat, we seemed to have been recalled for this purpose, that we might perish a second time and see another destruction of our country, and that there was no need at all of a Carthaginian leader or army for our ruin; we could be extinguished by the Turduli, our oldest enemies, who had also been the cause of our former destruction.
§28.39.9cum ex insperato repente misistis nobis hunc P. Scipionem, quem fortunatissimi omnium Saguntinorum videmur quia consulem declaratum videmus ac vidisse nos civibus nostris renuntiaturi sumus, spem, opem, salutem nostram; §28.39.10qui cum plurimas hostium vestrorum cepisset in Hispania urbes, ubique ex captorum numero excretos Saguntinos in patriam remisit:
When unexpectedly you suddenly sent to us this P. Scipio—whom we seem to be the most fortunate of all Saguntines because we see him declared consul and are going to announce to our citizens that we have seen him—our hope, our help, our salvation; who, when he had captured very many cities of your enemies in Spain, everywhere sent back to their country the Saguntines selected from the number of the captives.
§28.39.11postremo Turdetaniam, adeo infestam nobis, ut illa gente incolumi stare Saguntum non posset, ita bello adflixit, ut non modo nobis, sed — absit verbo invidia — ne posteris quidem timenda nostris esset.
Finally, he so shattered Turdetania, which was so hostile to us that Saguntum could not stand while that nation was safe, by war, that it was to be feared not only not by us, but—let ill-will be absent from the word—not even by our posterity.
§28.39.12deletam urbem cernimus eorum, quorum in gratiam Saguntum deleverat Hannibal; vectigal ex agro eorum capimus, quod nobis non fructu iucundius est quam ultione.
We see the destroyed city of those in whose favor Hannibal had destroyed Saguntum; we receive tribute from their territory, which is not more pleasant to us for its fruit than for our vengeance.
§28.39.13ob haec, quibus maiora nec sperare nec optare ab dis immortalibus poteramus, gratias actum nos decem legatos Saguntinus senatus populusque ad vos misit, simul gratulatum, §28.39.14quod ita res per hos annos in Hispania atque Italia gessistis, uti Hispaniam non Hibero amne tenus, sed qua terrarum ultimus finis Oceanus, domitam armis habeatis, Italiae, nisi quatenus vallum castrorum cingit, nihil reliqueritis Poeno.
On account of these things, than which we could neither hope for nor wish for greater from the immortal gods, the Saguntine Senate and people sent us ten envoys to you to return thanks, and at the same time to congratulate you, because you have so conducted affairs through these years in Spain and Italy that you hold Spain subdued by arms, not merely as far as the river Ebro, but where the Ocean is the ultimate boundary of the lands, and you have left nothing of Italy to the Carthaginian, except so far as the rampart of his camp surrounds him.
§28.39.15Iovi optimo maximo, praesidi Capitolinae arcis, non grates tantum ob haec agere iussi sumus, sed donum hoc etiam, si vos permitteretis, coronam auream in Capitolium victoriae ergo ferre.
We were commanded not only to return thanks for these things to Jupiter Best and Greatest, the guardian of the Capitoline citadel, but also, if you should permit, to carry this gift, a golden crown, to the Capitol for the sake of victory.
§28.39.16id uti permittatis quaesumus, utique, si vobis ita videretur, quae nobis imperatores vestri commoda tribuerunt, §28.39.17ea rata atque perpetua auctoritate vestra faciatis. ” senatus legatis Saguntinis respondit et dirutum et restitutum Saguntum fidei socialis utrimque servatae documentum omnibus gentibus fore; §28.39.18suos imperatores recte et ordine et ex voluntate senatus fecisse, quod Saguntum restituerint civesque Saguntinos servitio exemerint; quaeque alia eis benigne fecerint, ea senatum ita voluisse fieri; §28.39.19donum permittere ut in Capitolio ponerent.
We beg that you permit this, and especially, if it should seem good to you, that what benefits your generals have bestowed on us, you make them ratified and perpetual by your authority." The Senate replied to the Saguntine envoys that both the destroyed and the restored Saguntum would be a proof to all nations of the social alliance faithfully kept on both sides; that their generals had acted rightly, orderly, and according to the will of the Senate in restoring Saguntum and exempting the Saguntine citizens from slavery; and that whatever other kind acts they had done for them, the Senate had wished them to be so done; that they permitted them to place the gift on the Capitol.
locus inde lautiaque legatis praeberi iussa, et muneris ergo in singulos dari ne minus dena milia aeris.
Then lodging and entertainment were ordered to be provided for the envoys, and as a gift, not less than ten thousand asses of bronze to be given to each.
§28.39.20legationes deinde ceterae in senatum introductae auditaeque.
Then the other embassies were introduced into the Senate and heard.
§28.39.21et petentibus Saguntinis, ut, quatenus tuto possent, Italiam spectatum irent, duces dati litteraeque per oppida missae, ut Hispanos comiter acciperent.
And at the request of the Saguntines, that, as far as they could safely do so, they might go to view Italy, guides were given and letters sent through the towns that they should receive the Spaniards courteously.
§28.39.22tum de re publica de exercitibus scribendis, de provinciis relatum.
Then a report was made concerning the republic, the levying of armies, and the provinces.