§33.31.1omnibus Graeciae civitatibus hanc pacem adprobantibus soli Aetoli decretum decem legatorum clam mussantes carpebant: §33.31.2litteras inanis vana specie libertatis adumbratas esse; cur enim alias Romanis tradi urbes nec nominari eas, alias nominari et sine traditione liberas iuberi esse, §33.31.3nisi quod, quae in Asia sint, liberentur, longinquitate ipsa tutiores, quae in Graecia sint, ne nominatae quidem intercipiantur, Corinthus et Chalcis et Oreus cum Eretria et Demetriade?
While all the cities of Greece approved of this peace, the Aetolians alone, muttering secretly, criticized the decree of the ten legates: that the letter of the treaty was empty, shadowed over with a vain appearance of liberty; for why were some cities delivered to the Romans and not named, while others were named and ordered to be free without such delivery, unless because those in Asia, safer by their very distance, were being freed, while those in Greece, not even named, were being intercepted — namely Corinth, Chalcis, and Oreus, along with Eretria and Demetrias?
§33.31.4nec tota ex vano criminatio erat.
Nor was the accusation entirely groundless.
dubitabatur enim de Corintho et Chalcide et Demetriade, quia in senatus consulto, quo missi decem legati ab urbe erant, ceterae Graeciae atque Asiae urbes haud dubie liberabantur, §33.31.5de iis tribus urbibus legati, quod tempora rei publicae postulassent, id e re publica fideque sua facere ac statuere iussi erant.
For there was doubt concerning Corinth, Chalcis, and Demetrias, because in the decree of the senate by which the ten legates had been sent from the City, the other cities of Greece and Asia were undoubtedly set free, but concerning these three cities, the legates had been ordered to act and decide as the circumstances of the state should demand, in accordance with the public interest and their own good faith.
§33.31.6Antiochus rex erat, quem transgressurum in Europam, cum primum ei vires suae satis placuissent, non dubitabant; ei tam §33.31.7opportunas ad occupandum patere urbes nolebant.
There was King Antiochus, of whom they did not doubt that he would cross over into Europe as soon as his own forces should sufficiently please him; they did not wish cities so convenient for occupation to lie open to him.
ab Elatia profectus Quinctius Anticyram cum decem legatis, inde Corinthum traiecit.
Setting out from Elatia, Quinctius crossed to Anticyra with the ten legates, and thence to Corinth.
ibi consilia de libertate Graeciae dies prope totos in concilio decem legatorum agitabantur.
There, plans concerning the liberty of Greece were agitated almost whole days in the council of the ten legates.
§33.31.8identidem Quinctius liberandam omnem Graeciam, si Aetolorum linguas retundere, si veram caritatem ac maiestatem apud omnis nominis Romani vellent esse, §33.31.9si fidem facere ad liberandam Graeciam, non ad transferendum a Philippo ad se imperium sese mare traiecisse.
Repeatedly Quinctius argued that all Greece must be set free, if they wished to blunt the tongues of the Aetolians, and if they wished true affection and majesty for the Roman name to exist among all; and if they wished to prove that they had crossed the sea to liberate Greece, and not to transfer the empire from Philip to themselves.
§33.31.10nihil contra ea de libertate urbium alii dicebant; ceterum ipsis tutius esse manere paulisper sub tutela praesidii Romani quam pro Philippo Antiochum dominum accipere.
The others said nothing to the contrary concerning the liberty of the cities; but argued that it was safer for the cities themselves to remain for a little while under the protection of a Roman garrison than to receive Antiochus as lord instead of Philip.
§33.31.11postremo ita decretum est: Corinthus redderetur Achaeis, ut in Acrocorintho tamen praesidium esset; Chalcidem ac Demetriadem retineri, donec cura de Antiocho decessisset.
Finally, it was decreed as follows: Corinth should be restored to the Achaeans, provided however that there should be a garrison in the Acrocorinth; but Chalcis and Demetrias should be retained until the anxiety concerning Antiochus had passed away.