§35.49.1ad ea Quinctius, coram quibus magis, quam apud quos verba faceret, dicere Archidamum rationem habuisse: §35.49.2Achaeos enim probe scire Aetolorum omnem ferociam in verbis, non in factis esse, et in conciliis magis contionibusque quam in acie apparere: §35.49.3itaque parvi Achaeorum existimationem, quibus notos esse se scirent, fecisse; legatis regis et per eos absenti regi eum se iactasse.
To this Quinctius replied that Archidamus had shown regard to those in whose presence he was speaking, rather than to those among whom he spoke: for the Achaeans knew full well that all the fierceness of the Aetolians lay in words, not in deeds, and was displayed in councils and assemblies rather than in the battle line: therefore he had made little account of the opinion of the Achaeans, to whom he knew his people were well known, and had boasted of himself to the king's legates, and through them to the absent king.
§35.49.4quod si quis antea ignorasset, quae res Antiochum et Aetolos coniunxisset, ex legatorum sermone potuisse apparere, mentiendo in vicem iactandoque vires, quas non haberent, inflasse vana spe atque inflatos esse,
But if anyone had previously been ignorant of what had united Antiochus and the Aetolians, it might have become apparent from the speeches of the ambassadors, that by lying to one another in turn and boasting of forces which they did not possess, they had puffed each other up with empty hope and had themselves been puffed up.
§35.49.5“dum hi ab se victum Philippum, sua virtute protectos Romanos et, quae modo audiebatis, narrant vos ceterasque civitates et gentes suam sectam esse secuturos, rex contra peditum equitumque nubes iactat et consternit maria classibus suis.
"While these men tell how Philip was conquered by them, and the Romans protected by their valor, and, as you were just now hearing, that you and the rest of the states and nations would follow their lead, the king on his part boasts of clouds of infantry and cavalry, and covers the seas with his fleets.
§35.49.6est autem res simillima cenae Chalcidensis hospitis mei, et hominis boni et sciti convivatoris, apud quem solstitiali tempore comiter accepti cum miraremur, unde illi eo tempore anni tam varia et multa venatio,
But this situation is very like a dinner given by my host at Chalcis, a worthy man and a clever entertainer.
§35.49.7homo non quam isti sunt gloriosus renidens condimentis ait varietatem illam et speciem ferinae carnis ex mansueto sue factam. ” hoc dici apte in copias regis, quae paulo ante iactatae sint, posse: §35.49.8varia enim genera armorum et multa nomina gentium inauditarum, Dahas et Medos et Cadusios et Elymaeos, Suros omnis esse, haud paulo mancipiorum melius propter servilia ingenia quam militum genus.
When we were hospitably received by him at the summer solstice, and we wondered how he could have obtained so many and various kinds of wild game at that season of the year, that man, not boastful as these fellows are, said with a smile that all that variety and appearance of wild game had been made from a tame pig by means of seasonings." He said that this could be aptly applied to the forces of the king, which had been boasted of a little while ago: for the various kinds of armor and the many names of unheard-of nations, the Dahae, Medes, Cadusians, and Elymaeans, were all Syrians, a class much better fitted for slaves because of their servile nature than for soldiers.
§35.49.9“et utinam subicere vestris oculis, Achaei, possem concursationem regis magni ab Demetriade nunc Lamiam in concilium Aetolorum nunc Chalcidem; §35.49.10videretis vix duarum male plenarum legiuncularum instar in castris regis; videretis regem nunc mendicantem prope frumentum ab Aetolis, §35.49.11quod militi admetiatur. nunc mutuas pecunias faenore in stipendium quaerentem, nunc ad portas Chalcidis stantem et mox, inde exclusum, nihil aliud quam Aulide atque Euripo spectatis in Aetoliam redeuntem.
"And would that I could place before your eyes, Achaeans, the rushing about of the great king from Demetrias, now to Lamia to the council of the Aetolians, now to Chalcis; you would see in the king's camp what is scarcely the equivalent of two poorly-filled little legions; you would see the king now almost begging for grain from the Aetolians, to measure out to his soldiers; now seeking borrowed money at interest for pay; now standing at the gates of Chalcis, and soon, shut out from there, returning to Aetolia after seeing nothing other than Aulis and the Euripus.
male crediderunt et Antiochus Aetolis et Aetoli regiae vanitati: §35.49.12quo minus vos decipi debetis, sed expertae potius spectataeque Romanorum fidei credere.
Both Antiochus foolishly trusted the Aetolians, and the Aetolians the king's vanity: wherefore you ought the less to be deceived, but rather to trust the tried and tested loyalty of the Romans.
§35.49.13nam quod optimum esse dicunt, non interponi vos bello, nihil immo tam alienum rebus vestris est; quippe sine gratia sine dignitate praemium victoris eritis. ”
For as to what they say is best, that you do not interpose yourselves in the war, nay, nothing is so contrary to your interests; for indeed, without gratitude and without dignity, you will become the prize of the victor."