§33.16.1priusquam dimicaretur ad Cynoscephalas, L. Quinctius Corcyram excitis Acarnanum principibus, quae sola Graeciae gentium in societate Macedonum manserat, initium quoddam ibi motus fecit.
Before the battle was fought at Cynoscephalae, Lucius Quinctius, having summoned the leaders of the Acarnanians to Corcyra—which alone of the Greek nations had remained in alliance with the Macedonians—made there a certain beginning of agitation.
§33.16.2duae autem maxime causae eos tenuerant in amicitia regis, §33.16.3una fides insita genti, altera metus odiumque Aetolorum.
However, two chief causes had kept them in friendship with the king, one the loyalty natural to the nation, the other their fear and hatred of the Aetolians.
concilium Leucadem indictum est.
A council was summoned to Leucas.
eo neque cuncti convenere Acarnanum populi, nec iis, qui convenerant, idem placuit; sed duo principes et magistratus pervicerunt, ut privatum decretum Romanae societatis fieret.
Not all the states of the Acarnanians assembled there, nor did those who had assembled agree in opinion; but two leaders and the magistrates prevailed so that a private decree of alliance with Rome was passed.
§33.16.4id omnes, qui afuerant, aegre passi; et in hoc fremitu gentis a Philippo missi duo principes Acarnanum, Androcles et Echedemus, non ad tollendum modo decretum Romanae societatis valuerunt, §33.16.5sed etiam ut Archelaus et Bianor, principes gentis ambo, quod auctores eius sententiae fuissent, proditionis in concilio damnarentur, et Zeuxidae praetori, quod de ea re rettulisset, imperium abrogaretur.
All those who had been absent took this ill; and in this excitement of the nation, Androcles and Echedemus, two leaders of the Acarnanians sent by Philip, succeeded not only in rescinding the decree of alliance with Rome, but also in having Archelaus and Bianor, both leaders of the nation, condemned for treason in the council because they had been the authors of that proposal, and in having the command abrogated from Zeuxidas the praetor because he had introduced the matter.
§33.16.6rem temerariam, sed eventu prosperam damnati fecerunt.
Those who were condemned took a rash step, but one that was successful in its outcome.
suadentibus namque amicis, cederent tempori et Corcyram ad Romanos abirent, §33.16.7statuerunt offerre se multitudini et aut eo ipso lenire iras aut pati, §33.16.8quod casus tulisset.
For when their friends advised them to yield to the times and depart to the Romans at Corcyra, they resolved to present themselves to the multitude and either to appease their anger by that very act or to suffer whatever fortune might bring.
cum se frequenti concilio intulissent, primo murmur ac fremitus admirantium, silentium mox a verecundia simul pristinae dignitatis ac misericordia praesentis fortunae ortum est.
When they had entered the crowded council, at first there arose a murmur and rustle of those wondering, but soon a silence arose, born both of respect for their former dignity and pity for their present fortune.
§33.16.9potestate quoque dicendi facta principio suppliciter, procedente autem oratione, ubi ad crimina diluenda ventum est, §33.16.10cum tanta fiducia, quantam innocentia dabat, disseruerunt; postremo ultro aliquid etiam queri et castigare iniquitatem simul in se crudelitatemque ausi ita adfecerunt animos, §33.16.11ut omnia, quae in eos decreta erant, frequentes tollerent neque eo minus redeundum in societatem Philippi abnuendamque Romanorum amicitiam censerent.
When permission to speak was also granted, they spoke at first suppliantly, but as the speech proceeded and they came to clear themselves of the charges, they argued with as much confidence as innocence gave them; finally, having dared even to complain of their own accord and to chastise the injustice and cruelty shown towards them, they so moved their minds that the crowded assembly repealed all the decrees passed against them, and nevertheless voted that they should return to the alliance with Philip and reject the friendship of the Romans.