§31.9.1in ipso adparatu belli legati a rege Ptolomaeo venerunt, qui nuntiarent Athenienses adversus Philippum petisse ab rege auxilium; §31.9.2ceterum, etsi communes socii sint, tamen nisi ex auctoritate populi Romani neque classem neque exercitum defendendi aut oppugnandi cuiusquam causa regem in Graeciam missurum esse; §31.9.3vel quieturum eum in regno, si populo Romano socios defendere libeat, vel Romanos quiescere, si malint, passurum atque ipsum auxilia, quae facile adversus Philippum tueri Athenas possent, missurum.
In the very midst of the preparations for war, envoys came from King Ptolemy, to report that the Athenians had sought help from the king against Philip; moreover, that although they were common allies, yet unless by the authority of the Roman people, the king would send neither a fleet nor an army to Greece for the purpose of defending or attacking anyone; that he would either remain quiet in his kingdom, if it pleased the Roman people to defend their allies, or, if they preferred, he would allow the Romans to remain quiet and would himself send reinforcements which could easily defend Athens against Philip.
§31.9.4gratiae regi ab senatu actae responsumque tutari socios populo Romano in animo esse; si qua re ad id bellum opus sit, indicaturos regi regnique eius opes scire subsidia firma ac fidelia suae rei publicae esse.
Thanks were returned to the king by the senate, and it was answered that it was the intention of the Roman people to defend their allies; if there should be need of anything for that war, they would indicate it to the king, and that they knew the resources of his kingdom to be strong and faithful supports for their republic.
§31.9.5munera deinde legatis in singulos quinum milium aeris ex senatus consulto missa.
Then gifts of five thousand asses of bronze to each were sent to the envoys in accordance with a decree of the senate.
cum dilectum consules haberent pararentque, §31.9.6quae ad bellum opus essent, civitas religiosa, in principiis maxime novorum bellorum, supplicationibus habitis iam et obsecratione circa omnia pulvinaria facta, ne quid praetermitteretur, quod aliquando factum esset, ludos Iovi donumque vovere consulem, cui provincia Macedonia evenisset, iussit.
While the consuls were conducting the levy and preparing what was necessary for the war, the state, which was religious, especially at the beginnings of new wars, after supplications had already been held and intercession made around all the shrines, so that nothing might be omitted which had ever been done at any time, ordered the consul to whom the province of Macedonia had fallen to vow games and a gift to Jupiter.
§31.9.7moram voto publico Licinius pontifex maximus attulit, qui negavit ex incerta pecunia vovere licere; ex certa voveri debere, quia ea pecunia non posset in bellum usui esse seponique statim deberet nec cum alia pecunia misceri; quod si factum esset, votum rite solvi non posse.
Licinius, the chief pontiff, brought delay to the public vow; he asserted that it was not lawful to vow from an uncertain sum of money; that it ought to be vowed from a certain sum, because that money could not be of use for the war and ought to be set aside immediately and not mixed with other money; if this were done, the vow could not be properly fulfilled.
§31.9.8quamquam et res et auctor movebat, tamen ad collegium pontificum referre consul iussus, si posset recte votum incertae pecuniae suscipi.
Although both the matter and the authority moved them, yet the consul was ordered to refer to the college of pontiffs whether a vow of an uncertain sum of money could rightly be undertaken.
posse rectiusque etiam esse pontifices decreverunt.
The pontiffs decreed that it was possible and even more correct.
§31.9.9vovit in eadem verba consul praeeunte maximo pontifice, quibus antea quinquennalia vota suscipi solita erant, §31.9.10praeterquam quod tanta pecunia, quantam tum, cum solveretur, senatus censuisset, ludos donaque facturum vovit.
The consul made the vow in the same words, with the chief pontiff dictating them, in which five-year vows had formerly been accustomed to be undertaken, except that he vowed he would celebrate games and make gifts with as much money as the senate should have decreed at the time when it was fulfilled.
octiens ante ludi magni de certa pecunia voti erant; hi primi de incerta.
Eight times before, great games had been vowed from a certain sum of money; these were the first from an uncertain sum.