§33.45.1haec cum ab tam gravibus auctoribus, qui omnia per se ipsos explorata adferrent, §33.45.2audirentur, maior res, quod ad Antiochum attineret, maturanda magis, quoniam rex quacumque de causa in Syriam concessisset, de tyranno consultatio visa est.
When these things were heard from such trustworthy sources, who brought reports of everything investigated by themselves, the more important matter concerning Antiochus was deferred, since the king had for some reason withdrawn into Syria; whereas the consultation about the tyrant seemed to demand more immediate action.
§33.45.3cum diu disceptatum esset, utrum satis iam causae videretur, cur decerneretur bellum, an permitterent T. Quinctio, quod ad Nabim Lacedaemonium attineret, faceret, quod e re publica censeret esse permiserunt, §33.45.4eam rem esse rati, quae maturata dilatave non ita magni momenti ad summam rem publicam esset; §33.45.5magis id animadvertendum esse, quid Hannibal et Carthaginienses, si cum Antiocho bellum motum foret, acturi essent.
After a long debate as to whether there already seemed to be sufficient cause for declaring war, or whether they should permit Titus Quinctius to do, as far as Nabis the Lacedaemonian was concerned, what he judged to be of advantage to the state, they decided to leave it to him, deeming that the matter, whether hastened or delayed, was not of such great importance to the safety of the state; and that they should rather observe what Hannibal and the Carthaginians would do, if war should be started with Antiochus.
§33.45.6adversae Hannibali factionis homines principibus Romanis, hospitibus quisque suis, identidem scribebant nuntios litterasque ab Hannibale ad Antiochum missas et ab rege ad eum clam legatos venisse; §33.45.7ut feras quasdam nulla mitescere arte, sic inmitem et inplacabilem eius viri animum esse; marcescere otii situ queri civitatem et inertia sopiri nec sine armorum sonitu excitari posse.
Men of the faction opposed to Hannibal were repeatedly writing to the Roman leaders, each to his own guest-friend, that messengers and letters had been sent by Hannibal to Antiochus, and that embassies from the king had come secretly to him; that just as certain wild beasts cannot be tamed by any art, so the mind of that man was ruthless and implacable; and that he complained that the state was languishing in the rust of peace and put to sleep by inactivity, and could not be aroused without the sound of arms.
§33.45.8haec probabilia memoria prioris belli per unum illum non magis gesti quam moti faciebat.
These reports were made credible by the memory of the former war, which had been not more conducted than brought about by that single man.
irritaverat etiam recenti facto multorum potentium animos.
He had also irritated the minds of many powerful men by a recent act.