§34.37.1haec inter se primo in circulis serentes fremere; deinde subito ad arma discurrerunt. §34.37.2quo tumultu cum per se satis irritatam multitudinem cerneret tyrannus, contionem advocari iussit. §34.37.3ubi cum ea, quae imperarentur ab Romanis, exposuisset et graviora atque indigniora quaedam falso adfinxisset, et ad singula nunc ab universis, nunc a partibus contionis acclamaretur, interrogavit, quid se respondere ad ea aut quid facere vellent. §34.37.4prope una voce omnes nihil responderi et bellum geri iusserunt; et pro se quisque, qualia multitudo solet, bonum animum habere et bene sperare iubentes, fortis fortunam adiuvare aiebant. §34.37.5his vocibus incitatus tyrannus et Antiochum Aetolosque adiuturos pronuntiat, et sibi ad obsidionem sustinendam copiarum adfatim esse. §34.37.6exciderat pacis mentio ex omnium animis, et in stationes non ultra quieturi discurrunt.
\nAt first, spreading these complaints among themselves in small groups, they began to grumble; then suddenly they rushed to arms.\n\nWhen the tyrant saw that the multitude, already sufficiently excited of itself, was aroused by this tumult, he ordered an assembly to be summoned.\n\nWhen he had there explained the demands imposed by the Romans, and had falsely added certain harsher and more humiliating terms, and shouting arose against each point, now from the whole body, now from parts of the assembly, he asked them what they wished him to reply to those demands or what they wished him to do.\n\nAlmost with one voice they all ordered that no reply be made and that war be waged; and each for his own part, as a crowd is wont to do, bidding him to keep a good heart and have good hope, they said that fortune favors the brave.\n\nEncouraged by these voices, the tyrant declared both that Antiochus and the Aetolians would help, and that he had an abundance of forces to sustain a siege.\n\nAll mention of peace had vanished from the minds of all, and they rushed to their posts, intending to remain quiet no longer.
paucorum excursio lacessentium et emissa iacula extemplo et Romanis dubitationem, quin bellandum esset, exemerunt. §34.37.7levia inde proelia per quadriduum primum sine ullo satis certo eventu commissa; §34.37.8quinto die prope iusta pugna adeo paventes in oppidum Lacedaemonii compulsi sunt, ut quidam milites Romani terga fugientium caedentes per intermissa, ut tunc erant, moenia urbem intrarint.
The sally of a few challengers and the javelins they threw immediately removed from the Romans as well any doubt that they must fight.\n\nAfter that, light skirmishes were fought during the first four days without any sufficiently decisive result;\n\non the fifth day, in an almost regular battle, the Lacedaemonians were driven into the town so terrified that certain Roman soldiers, cutting down the backs of the fugitives, entered the city through the gaps in the walls as they then were.