§31.15.1in contionem extemplo populus vocatus, ut rex, quae vellet, coram ageret; deinde ex dignitate magis visum scribere eum, §31.15.2de quibus videretur, quam praesentem aut referendis suis in civitatem beneficiis erubescere aut significationibus adclamationibusque multitudinis adsentatione immodica pudorem onerantis.
The people were immediately summoned to an assembly so that the king might state his wishes in person; but afterwards it was deemed more consistent with his dignity that he should write about such matters as he thought proper, rather than that he should in person either blush at recounting his services to the state, or feel embarrassed by the expressions and acclamations of the multitude, who by their excessive adulation burdened his modesty.
§31.15.3in litteris autem, quae missae in contionem recitataeque sunt, commemoratio erat beneficiorum primum in civitatem suorum, deinde rerum, §31.15.4quas adversus Philippum gessisset, ad postremum adhortatio capessendi belli, dum se, dum Rhodios, tum quidem dum etiam Romanos haberent: §31.15.5nequiquam postea, si tum cessassent, praetermissam occasionem quaesituros.
In the letter, however, which was sent to the assembly and read aloud, there was first a recollection of his benefits to the state, then of the actions which he had performed against Philip, and finally an exhortation to undertake the war while they had himself, the Rhodians, and at that very time even the Romans as allies: warning them that if they hesitated then, they would afterwards in vain seek for the opportunity they had lost.
Rhodii deinde legati auditi sunt; quorum recens erat beneficium, quod naves longas quattuor Atheniensium, captas nuper ab Macedonibus recuperatasque, remiserant.
The Rhodian ambassadors were then heard; whose recent benefit was that they had restored four warships of the Athenians, which had been lately captured by the Macedonians and recovered by them.
itaque ingenti consensu bellum adversus Philippum decretum.
Consequently, war was decreed against Philip with immense consensus.
§31.15.6honores regi primum Attalo immodici, deinde et Rhodiis habiti.
Extravagant honors were paid first to King Attalus, and then also to the Rhodians.
tum primum mentio inlata de tribu, quam Attalida appellarent, ad decem veteres tribus addenda, et Rhodiorum populus corona aurea virtutis ergo donatus, §31.15.7civitasque Rhodiis data, quem ad modum Rhodii prius Atheniensibus dederant.
Then for the first time, mention was made of adding a tribe, which they were to call Attalis, to the ten ancient tribes, and the people of the Rhodians were presented with a golden crown for their valor, and citizenship was given to the Rhodians, in the same manner as the Rhodians had previously given it to the Athenians.
§31.15.8secundum haec rex Attalus Aeginam ad classem se recipit; Rhodii Ciam ab Aegina, inde per insulas Rhodum navigarunt omnibus praeter Andrum Parumque et Cythnum, quae praesidiis Macedonum tenebantur, in societatem acceptis.
After these events, King Attalus withdrew to his fleet at Aegina; the Rhodians sailed from Aegina to Ceos, and from there through the islands to Rhodes, having received into their alliance all except Andros, Paros, and Cythnus, which were held by Macedonian garrisons.
§31.15.9Attalum Aeginae missi in Aetoliam nuntii expectatique inde legati aliquamdiu nihil agentem tenuere.
The messengers sent to Aetolia and the legates expected from there kept Attalus inactive at Aegina for some time.
§31.15.10sed neque illos excire ad arma potuit, gaudentes utcumque composita cum Philippo pace, et ipse Rhodiique, cum, si institissent Philippo, egregium liberatae per se Graeciae titulum habere potuissent, §31.15.11patiendo rursus eum in Hellespontum traicere occupantemque Thraeciae opportuna loca vires colligere bellum aluere gloriamque eius gesti perfectique Romanis concesserunt.
But he could not rouse them to arms, as they were content with the peace, however concluded, with Philip; and he himself and the Rhodians, although they might have had the glorious title of having cleared Greece by their own efforts if they had pressed upon Philip, by allowing him to cross back into the Hellespont and to collect strength by occupying opportune places in Thrace, fostered the war and surrendered the glory of waging and finishing it to the Romans.