§35.18.1Alexander Acarnan in consilio erat; §35.18.2Philippi quondam amicus, nuper relicto eo secutus opulentiorem regiam Antiochi et tamquam peritus Graeciae nec ignarus Romanorum in eum gradum amicitiae regis, ut consiliis quoque arcanis interesset, §35.18.3acceptus erat.
Alexander the Acarnanian was present at the council; formerly a friend of Philip, he had recently left him and followed the wealthier court of Antiochus, and as one skilled in Greece and not ignorant of the Romans, he had been received into such a degree of the king’s friendship that he was present even at his secret councils.
is, tamquam non, utrum bellandum esset necne, consuleretur, sed, ubi et qua ratione bellum gereretur, victoriam se haud dubiam proponere animo adfirmabat, si in Europam transisset rex et in aliqua Graeciae parte sedem bello cepisset.
He, as if the question being consulted were not whether they should go to war or not, but where and in what manner the war should be conducted, declared that he presented to his mind a victory by no means doubtful, if the king crossed over into Europe and established a seat for the war in some part of Greece.
§35.18.4iam primum Aetolos, qui umbilicum Graeciae incolerent, in armis eum inventurum, antesignanos ad asperrima quaeque belli paratos; §35.18.5in duobus velut cornibus Graeciae, Nabim a Peloponneso concitaturum omnia, §35.18.6repetentem Argivorum urbem, repetentem maritimas civitates, quibus eum depulsum Romani Lacedaemonis muris inclusissent, a Macedonia Philippum, ubi primum bellicum cani audisset, arma capturum: nosse se spiritus eius, nosse animum;
In the first place, he would find the Aetolians, who inhabited the navel of Greece, in arms, ready as vanguard for all the toughest trials of war; on the two wings, as it were, of Greece, Nabis from the Peloponnese would throw everything into confusion, seeking to recover the city of the Argives, seeking to recover the maritime cities from which the Romans, having driven him out, had enclosed him within the walls of Lacedaemon; while from Macedonia Philip, as soon as he heard the signal of war sounded, would take up arms.
scire ferarum modo, quae claustris aut vinculis teneantur, ingentis iam diu iras eum in pectore volvere;
He knew his spirit, he knew his mind; he knew that like wild beasts held by cages or chains, he had long been turning over immense rages in his breast.
§35.18.7meminisse etiam se, quotiens in bello precari omnis deos solitus sit, ut Antiochum sibi darent adiutorem; §35.18.8cuius voti si compos nunc fiat, nullam moram rebellandi facturum.
He also remembered how often during the war Philip had been accustomed to pray to all the gods to give him Antiochus as a helper; if he should now obtain this wish, he would make no delay in rebelling.
tantum non cunctandum nec cessandum esse: in eo enim victoriam verti, si et loca opportuna et socii praeoccuparentur.
Only there must be no hesitating or delaying, for victory turned upon this, that opportune places and allies should be pre-occupied.
Hannibalem quoque sine mora mittendum in Africam esse ad distringendos Romanos.
Hannibal, too, should be sent without delay to Africa to distract the Romans.