§32.32.1hiems iam eo tempore erat, et, cum T. Quinctius capta Elatia in Phocide ac Locride hiberna disposita haberet, Opunte seditio orta est.
It was now winter, and while Titus Quinctius, having captured Elatia, had his winter quarters established in Phocis and Locris, a sedition arose at Opus.
§32.32.2factio una Aetolos, qui propiores erant, altera Romanos accersebat.
One faction was calling in the Aetolians, who were nearer, the other the Romans.
§32.32.3Aetoli priores venerunt; sed opulentior factio exclusis Aetolis missoque ad imperatorem Romanum nuntio usque in adventum eius tenuit urbem.
The Aetolians arrived first; but the wealthier faction, having shut out the Aetolians and dispatched a messenger to the Roman commander, held the city until his arrival.
§32.32.4arcem regium tenebat praesidium, neque, ut decederent inde, aut Opuntiorum minis aut auctoritate imperatoris Romani perpelli potuerunt.
A royal garrison was holding the citadel, and they could not be induced to withdraw from there either by the threats of the Opuntians or by the authority of the Roman commander.
§32.32.5mora, cur non extemplo oppugnarentur, ea fuit, quod caduceator ab rege venerat locum ac tempus petens colloquio.
The delay in attacking them immediately was due to the fact that a herald had come from the king, asking for a place and time for a conference.
§32.32.6id gravate regi concessum est, non quin cuperet Quinctius per se partim armis, partim condicionibus confectum videri bellum; §32.32.7necdum enim sciebat, utrum successor sibi alter ex novis consulibus mitteretur, an, quod summa vi ut tenderent amicis et propinquis mandaverat, imperium prorogaretur; §32.32.8aptum autem fore colloquium credebat, ut sibi liberum esset vel ad bellum manenti vel ad pacem decedenti rem inclinare.
This was granted to the king with reluctance, not because Quinctius did not desire that the war should appear to be finished by himself, partly by arms and partly by terms; for he did not yet know whether one of the new consuls would be sent as his successor, or whether his command would be prorogued, which he had charged his friends and relatives to strive for with all their might; and he believed that a conference would be useful so that it would be free for him to incline the matter either towards war if he remained, or towards peace if he departed.
§32.32.9in sinu Maliaco prope Nicaeam litus elegere.
They chose a beach on the Malian Gulf near Nicaea.
eo rex ab Demetriade cum quinque lembis et una nave rostrata venit.
The king came there from Demetrias with five barks and one beaked ship.
§32.32.10erant cum eo principes Macedonum et Achaeorum exul, vir insignis, Cycliadas.
With him were the chief men of the Macedonians and Cycliadas, an exile of the Achaeans, a distinguished man.
§32.32.11cum imperatore Romano rex Amynander erat et Dionysodorus, Attali legatus, et Agesimbrotus, praefectus Rhodiae classis, et Phaeneas, princeps Aetolorum, et Achaei duo, §32.32.12Aristaenus et Xenophon.
With the Roman commander were King Amynander, Dionysodorus, the envoy of Attalus, Agesimbrotus, commander of the Rhodian fleet, Phaeneas, chief of the Aetolians, and two Achaeans, Aristaenus and Xenophon.
inter hos Romanus ad extremum litus progressus, cum rex in proram navis in ancoris stantis processisset, §32.32.13“commodius” inquit, “si in terram egrediaris, ex propinquo dicamus in vicem audiamusque. ” cum rex facturum se id negaret, “quem tandem” inquit Quinctius “times?” ad hoc ille superbo et regio animo: §32.32.14“neminem equidem timeo praeter deos immortalis; non omnium autem credo fidei, quos circa te video, §32.32.15atque omnium minime Aetolis”. “istuc quidem” ait Romanus “par omnibus periculum est, qui cum hoste ad colloquium congrediuntur, si nulla fides sit. ” §32.32.16“non tamen” inquit, “T. Quincti, par perfidiae praemium est, si fraude agatur, Philippus et Phaeneas; neque enim aeque difficulter Aetoli praetorem alium ac Macedones regem in meum locum substituant. ”
Among these, as the Roman advanced to the edge of the shore, and the king had come forward to the prow of his ship which was standing at anchor, "It would be more convenient," said the Roman, "if you would come ashore, so that we may speak and hear each other from nearby." When the king refused to do this, Quinctius said, "Whom, pray, do you fear?" To this he replied, with a proud and kingly spirit: "Indeed, I fear no one except the immortal gods; but I do not trust the good faith of all whom I see around you, and least of all the Aetolians." "That indeed," said the Roman, "is an equal danger for all who meet with an enemy for a conference, if there is no good faith." "But, Titus Quinctius," he said, "the reward of treachery is not equal, if fraud is practiced, for Philip and Phaeneas; for the Aetolians would not substitute another general with as much difficulty as the Macedonians would another king in my place."