§35.48.1in Achaia legatis Antiochi Aetolorumque coram T. Quinctio Aegii datum est concilium.
In Achaia, a council was granted to the ambassadors of Antiochus and the Aetolians at Aegium, in the presence of Titus Quinctius.
§35.48.2Antiochi legatus prior quam Aetoli est auditus.
The ambassador of Antiochus was heard before the Aetolians.
§35.48.3is, ut plerique, quos opes regiae alunt, vaniloquus maria terrasque inani sonitu verborum complevit: equitum innumerabilem vim traici Hellesponto in Europam, partim loricatos, quos cataphractos vocant, partim sagittis ex equo utentis et, a quo nihil satis tecti sit, averso refugientis equo certius figentes.
He, boastful as are most of those whom royal riches support, filled seas and lands with the empty sound of words: that an innumerable force of cavalry was being transported across the Hellespont into Europe, partly armored, whom they call cataphracts, partly using arrows from horseback, and, against which there is no sufficient protection, shooting more surely while fleeing on a turned-back horse.
§35.48.4his equestribus copiis quamquam vel totius Europae exercitus in unum coacti obrui possent, adiciebat multiplicis copias peditum, §35.48.5et nominibus quoque gentium vix fando auditis terrebat, Dahas Medos Elymaeosque et Cadusios appellans.
Although by these equestrian forces even the armies of all Europe gathered into one could be overwhelmed, he added manifold forces of infantry, and he also terrified them with the names of nations scarcely heard of by report, calling them Dahae, Medes, Elymaeans, and Cadusians.
§35.48.6navalium vero copiarum, quas nulli portus capere in Graecia possent, dextrum cornu Sidonios et Tyrios, sinistrum Aradios et ex Pamphylia Sidetas tenere, quas gentes nullae umquam nec arte nec virtute navali aequassent.
Of the naval forces, indeed, which no ports in Greece could contain, the right wing was held by the Sidonians and Tyrians, the left by the Aradians and Sidetes from Pamphylia, which nations no others had ever equaled either in naval art or valor.
§35.48.7iam pecuniam, iam alios belli apparatus referre supervacaneum esse: scire ipsos abundasse auro semper regna Asiae.
Now to mention money, now other preparations of war was superfluous; they themselves knew that the kingdoms of Asia had always abounded in gold.
itaque non cum Philippo nec Hannibale rem futuram Romanis, principe altero unius civitatis, altero Macedoniae tantum regni finibus incluso, sed cum magno Asiae totius partisque Europae rege.
Therefore, the Romans would have to deal not with Philip nor Hannibal, the one a leader of a single city, the other confined within the boundaries of the kingdom of Macedonia only, but with the great king of all Asia and part of Europe.
§35.48.8eum tamen, quamquam ab ultimis orientis terminis ad liberandam Graeciam veniat, nihil postulare ab Achaeis, in quo fides eorum adversus Romanos, §35.48.9priores socios atque amicos, laedatur: non enim ut secum adversus eos arma capiant, sed ut neutri parti sese coniungant petere.
He, however, although he came from the remotest boundaries of the east to liberate Greece, demanded nothing from the Achaeans in which their fidelity toward the Romans, their former allies and friends, might be violated; for he did not ask that they should take up arms with him against them, but that they should join themselves to neither party.
pacem utrique parti, quod medios deceat amicos, optent; bello se non interponant.
They should wish for peace for both parties, as became neutral friends, and not interpose themselves in the war.
§35.48.10idem ferme et Aetolorum legatus Archidamus petit, ut, quae facillima et tutissima esset, quietem praestarent, spectatoresque belli fortunarum alienarum eventum sine ullo discrimine rerum suarum opperirentur.
Archidamus, the ambassador of the Aetolians, made nearly the same request: that they should maintain quiet, which was the easiest and safest course, and as spectators of the war, await the outcome of other people's fortunes without any risk to their own affairs.
§35.48.11provectus deinde est intemperantia linguae in maledicta nunc communiter Romanorum, nunc proprie ipsius Quinctii, §35.48.12ingratos appellans et exprobrans non victoriam modo de Philippo virtute Aetolorum partam sed etiam salutem, ipsumque et exercitum sua opera servatos.
He was then carried away by the intemperance of his tongue into insults, now against the Romans in general, now specifically against Quinctius himself, calling them ungrateful and casting in their teeth not only that the victory over Philip had been won by the valor of the Aetolians, but even their safety, and that Quinctius himself and his army had been saved by his own exertion.
§35.48.13quo enim illum umquam imperatoris functum officio esse? auspicantem immolantemque et vota nuncupantem sacrificuli vatis modo in acie vidisse, cum ipse corpus suum pro eo telis hostium obiceret.
For when had he ever performed the duty of a commander? He had seen him in the battle line, like a sacrificing priest and a soothsayer, taking auspices, immolating, and pronouncing vows, while he himself was exposing his own body to the weapons of the enemy on his behalf.