§35.38.1Micythio et Xenoclides, penes quos tum summa rerum pulso Euthymida Chalcide erat, seu ipsi per se suspicati seu indicata re, primo pavidi nihil usquam spei nisi in fuga ponebant; §35.38.2deinde postquam resedit terror et prodi et deseri non patriam modo sed etiam Romanorum societatem cernebant, consilio tali animum adiecerunt.
Micythio and Xenoclides, in whose hands the supreme power was at that time after Euthymidas had been driven from Chalcis, whether they themselves suspected it on their own or because the matter had been disclosed, were at first terrified and placed no hope anywhere except in flight; then, after the terror subsided and they saw that not only their fatherland but also the alliance with the Romans was being betrayed and deserted, they turned their minds to the following plan.
§35.38.3sacrum anniversarium eo forte tempore Eretriae Amarynthidis Dianae erat, quod non popularium modo sed Carystiorum etiam coetu celebratur.
At that very time, there happened to be the annual festival of Amarynthian Diana at Eretria, which is celebrated by a gathering not only of the locals but also of the Carystians.
§35.38.4eo miserunt, qui orarent Eretrienses Carystiosque, ut et suarum fortunarum in eadem insula geniti misererentur et Romanam societatem respicerent; ne sinerent Aetolorum Chalcidem fieri; Euboeam habituros, §35.38.5si Chalcidem habuissent; graves fuisse Macedonas dominos; multo minus tolerabilis futuros Aetolos.
They sent messengers there to entreat the Eretrians and Carystians to take pity on their fortunes, as people born on the same island, and to respect the Roman alliance; and not to allow Chalcis to become the property of the Aetolians; for they would hold Euboea, if they should gain possession of Chalcis; the Macedonian masters had been oppressive, but the Aetolians would be far less tolerable.
Romanorum maxime respectus civitates movit, §35.38.6et virtutem nuper in bello et in victoria iustitiam benignitatemque expertas.
Respect for the Romans especially moved the cities, having recently experienced both their courage in war and their justice and kindness in victory.
itaque quod roboris in iuventute erat utraque civitas armavit misitque.
Therefore, both cities armed and sent the flower of their youth.
§35.38.7iis tuenda moenia Chalcidis oppidani cum tradidissent, ipsi omnibus copiis transgressi Euripum ad Salganea posuerunt castra.
When the townsmen had handed over the defense of the walls of Chalcis to them, they themselves crossed the Euripus with all their forces and pitched camp at Salganeus.
§35.38.8inde caduceator primum, deinde legati ad Aetolos missi percunctatum, quo suo dicto factove socii atque amici ad se oppugnandos venirent.
From there, first a herald, and then ambassadors were sent to the Aetolians to ask by what word or deed of theirs they, who were allies and friends, were coming to attack them.
§35.38.9respondit Thoas, dux Aetolorum, non ad oppugnandos, sed ad liberandos ab Romanis venire sese; §35.38.10splendidiore nunc eos catena, sed multo graviore vinctos esse, quam cum praesidium Macedonum in arce habuissent.
Thoas, the leader of the Aetolians, replied that they were coming not to attack them, but to deliver them from the Romans; that they were now bound by a more splendid chain, but a much heavier one, than when they had a Macedonian garrison in their citadel.
se vero negare Chalcidenses aut servire ulli aut praesidio cuiusquam egere.
But they replied that the Chalcidians neither served anyone nor needed anyone's garrison.
§35.38.11ita digressi ex colloquio legati ad suos; Thoas et Aetoli, §35.38.12ut qui spem omnem in eo, ut improviso opprimerent, habuissent, ad iustum bellum oppugnationemque urbis mari ac terra munitae haudquaquam pares, domum rediere.
Having thus departed from the conference, the ambassadors returned to their people; Thoas and the Aetolians, as men who had placed all their hope in taking them by surprise, being by no means equal to a regular war and the siege of a city fortified by sea and land, returned home.
§35.38.13Euthymidas postquam castra popularium ad Salganea esse profectosque Aetolos audivit, §35.38.14et ipse a Thebis Athenas rediit; et Herodorus cum per aliquot dies intentus ab Atalante signum nequiquam expectasset, missa speculatoria nave, ut, quid morae esset, sciret, postquam rem omissam ab sociis vidit, Thronium, unde venerat, repetit.
After Euthymidas heard that the camp of his fellow citizens was at Salganeus and that the Aetolians had departed, he himself also returned from Thebes to Athens; and Herodorus, after he had for several days waited in vain from Atalante, watching intently for a signal, sent a scouting vessel to find out what was causing the delay, and when he saw that the enterprise had been abandoned by his allies, he returned to Thronium, whence he had come.