§31.11.1his litteris recitatis decreverunt, ut C. Aurelius consul exercitum, cui in Etruriam ad conveniendum diem edixerat, §31.11.2Arimini eadem die adesse iuberet et aut ipse, si per commodum rei publicae posset, ad opprimendum Gallicum tumultum proficisceretur aut praetori scriberet, §31.11.3ut, cum ad eum legiones ex Etruria venissent, missis in vicem earum quinque milibus sociorum, quae interim Etruriae praesidio essent, proficisceretur ipse ad coloniam liberandam obsidione.
Upon these letters being read, they decreed that Gaius Aurelius the consul should order the army, for which he had appointed a day to assemble in Etruria, to be present at Ariminum on the same day; and either he himself, if he could do so consistently with the public interest, should set out to suppress the Gallic uprising, or he should write to the praetor, that, when the legions from Etruria should have come to him, five thousand of the allies having been sent in their place, which in the meantime should serve as a protection for Etruria, he himself should set out to free the colony from the siege.
§31.11.4legatos item mittendos in Africam censuerunt, eosdem Carthaginem, eosdem in Numidiam ad Masinissam: §31.11.5Carthaginem, ut nuntiarent civem eorum Hamilcarem relictum in Gallia — haud satis scire ex Hasdrubalis prius, an ex Magonis postea exercitu — §31.11.6bellum contra foedus facere, exercitus Gallorum Ligurumque excivisse ad arma contra populum Romanum; eum, si pax placeret, revocandum illis et dedendum populo Romano esse.
They also voted that ambassadors should be sent to Africa, the same to Carthage, the same to Numidia to Masinissa: to Carthage, to report that their citizen Hamilcar, who had been left in Gaul—they did not know for certain whether from Hasdrubal's army earlier, or from Mago's army later— was making war contrary to the treaty, and had roused the armies of the Gauls and Ligurians to arms against the Roman people; and that he, if peace pleased them, must be recalled by them and surrendered to the Roman people.
§31.11.7simul nuntiare iussi perfugas eis non omnis redditos esse, ac magnam partem eorum palam Carthagini obversari dici; quos comprehendi conquirique debere, ut eis ex foedere restituantur.
At the same time, they were ordered to report that not all the deserters had been returned to them, and that a large part of them was said to be openly moving about at Carthage; and that these ought to be arrested and searched for, so that they might be restored to them according to the treaty.
§31.11.8haec ad Carthaginienses mandata.
These were the instructions to the Carthaginians.
Masinissae gratulari iussi, quod non patrium modo recuperasset regnum, sed parte florentissima Syphacis finium adiecta etiam auxisset.
They were ordered to congratulate Masinissa, because he had not only recovered his paternal kingdom, but had also increased it, the most flourishing part of Syphax's territory having been added.
§31.11.9nuntiare praeterea iussi bellum cum rege Philippo susceptum, §31.11.10quod Carthaginienses auxiliis iuvisset iniuriasque inferendo sociis populi Romani flagrante bello Italia coegisset classes exercitusque in Graeciam mitti et distinendo copias causa in primis fuisset serius in Africam traiciendi; peterentque, ut ad id bellum mitteret auxilia Numidarum equitum.
They were ordered, moreover, to announce that war had been undertaken with King Philip, because he had aided the Carthaginians with reinforcements, and by inflicting injuries on the allies of the Roman people while war was raging in Italy, had compelled fleets and armies to be sent into Greece, and by dividing the forces, had been a chief cause of the later crossing into Africa; and they were to ask that he send reinforcements of Numidian cavalry for that war.
§31.11.11dona ampla data, quae ferrent regi, §31.11.12vasa aurea argenteaque, toga purpurea et palmata tunica cum eburneo scipione et toga praetexta cum curuli sella; iussique polliceri, si quid eis ad firmandum augendumque regnum opus esse indicasset, enixe id populum Romanum merito eius praestaturum.
Ample gifts were given for them to carry to the king: golden and silver vessels, a purple toga and an embroidered tunic with an ivory scepter, and a bordered toga with a curule chair; and they were ordered to promise that, if he should indicate that there was any need for them to strengthen and enlarge the kingdom, the Roman people would eagerly provide this in accordance with his merit.
§31.11.13Verminae quoque, Syphacis filii, legati per eos dies senatum adierunt excusantes errorem adulescentiamque et culpam omnem in fraudem Carthaginiensium avertentes: §31.11.14et Masinissam Romanis ex hoste amicum factum; Verminam quoque adnisurum, ne officiis in populum Romanum aut a Masinissa aut ab ullo alio vincatur; petere, ut rex sociusque et amicus ab senatu appellaretur.
The ambassadors of Vermina, son of Syphax, also approached the senate during those days, excusing his error and youth, and turning all the blame upon the deceit of the Carthaginians: and saying that Masinissa had also been made a friend from an enemy to the Romans; and that Vermina also would strive lest he be surpassed in services toward the Roman people either by Masinissa or by any other; and they begged that he be called king, ally, and friend by the senate.
§31.11.15responsum legatis est, et patrem eius Syphacem sine causa ex socio et amico hostem repente populi Romani factum, et eum ipsum rudimentum adulescentiae bello lacessentem Romanos posuisse.
It was answered to the ambassadors that both his father Syphax had suddenly become an enemy of the Roman people from an ally and friend without cause, and that he himself had laid down the first trial of his youth in provoking the Romans with war.
§31.11.16itaque pacem illi prius petendam ab populo Romano esse, quam ut rex sociusque et amicus appelletur; nominis eius honorem pro magnis erga se regum meritis dare populum Romanum consuesse.
Therefore, peace must first be sought by him from the Roman people, before he could be called king, ally, and friend; for the Roman people were accustomed to give the honor of that title in proportion to the great services of kings toward them.
§31.11.17legatos Romanos in Africa fore, quibus mandaturum senatum, ut Verminae pacis dent leges, liberum arbitrium eius populo Romano permittenti; si quid ad eas addi, demi mutarive vellet, rursus ab senatu ei postulandum fore.
That Roman ambassadors would be in Africa, to whom the senate would give instructions to dictate terms of peace to Vermina, provided he left the free decision of it to the Roman people; if he should wish anything to be added, removed, or changed in them, he would have to request it again from the senate.
§31.11.18legati cum iis mandatis in Africam missi C. Terentius Varro, Sp. Lucretius, Cn. Octavius.
The ambassadors sent to Africa with these instructions were Gaius Terentius Varro, Spurius Lucretius, and Gnaeus Octavius.
quinqueremes singulis datae.
A quinquereme was given to each.