§36.22.1Acilius consul ab Thermopylis Heracleam ad Aetolos praemisit, ut tunc saltem, experti regiam vanitatem, resipiscerent traditaque Heraclea cogitarent de petenda ab senatu seu furoris sui seu erroris venia.
The consul Acilius sent envoys ahead from Thermopylae to Heraclea to the Aetolians, so that at least then, having experienced the king's deceit, they might come to their senses, and by surrendering Heraclea, think of seeking pardon from the Senate for either their madness or their error.
§36.22.2et ceteras Graeciae civitates defecisse eo bello ab optime meritis Romanis; sed quia post fugam regis, §36.22.3cuius fiducia officio decessissent, non addidissent pertinaciam culpae, in fidem receptas esse; Aetolos quoque, quamquam non secuti sint regem, sed accersierint, et duces belli, non socii fuerint, si paenitere possint, §36.22.4posse et incolumis esse.
And he sent word that the other states of Greece had also defected in that war from the Romans who had deserved so well of them; but because, after the flight of the king, on relying upon whom they had departed from their duty, they had not added obstinacy to their guilt, they had been received into protection; that the Aetolians also, although they had not merely followed the king but had summoned him, and had been the leaders of the war, not allies, if they could repent, could also remain unharmed.
ad ea cum pacati nihil responderetur, appareretque armis rem gerendam et rege superato bellum Aetolicum integrum restare, castra ab Thermopylis ad Heracleam movit, eoque ipso die, ut situm nosceret urbis, ab omni parte equo moenia est circumvectus.
Since no peaceful answer was returned to these messages, and it was clear that the matter must be decided by arms and that, although the king was defeated, the Aetolian war remained untouched, he moved his camp from Thermopylae to Heraclea, and on that very day, in order to learn the situation of the city, rode on horseback around the walls on every side.
§36.22.5sita est Heraclea in radicibus Oetae montis, ipsa in campo, arcem imminentem loco alto et undique praecipiti habet.
Heraclea is situated at the foot of Mount Oeta, the city itself being in a plain, but it has a citadel hanging over it on a high place, precipitous on all sides.
§36.22.6contemplatus omnia, quae noscenda erant, quattuor simul locis aggredi urbem constituit.
Having observed everything that needed to be known, he decided to attack the city in four places at the same time.
§36.22.7a flumine Asopo, qua et gymnasium est, L. Valerium operibus atque oppugnationi praeposuit; partem extra muros, qua frequentius prope quam in urbe habitabatur, Ti. Sempronio Longo oppugnandam dedit; §36.22.8e regione sinus Maliaci, quae aditum haud facilem pars habebat, M. Baebium, ab altero amniculo, quem Melana vocant, adversus Dianae templum Ap. §36.22.9Claudium opposuit.
From the river Asopus, where the gymnasium also is, he placed Lucius Valerius in charge of the works and the assault; the part outside the walls, where it was inhabited almost more densely than in the city, he gave to Tiberius Sempronius Longus to be attacked; opposite the Malian Gulf, which part had a far from easy approach, he stationed Marcus Baebius, and from the other small stream, which they call Melas, opposite the temple of Diana, Appius Claudius.
horum magno certamine intra paucos dies turres arietesque et alius omnis apparatus oppugnandarum urbium perficitur.
By their great rivalry, within a few days, the towers, battering rams, and all other apparatus for besieging cities were completed.
§36.22.10et cum ager Heracleensis paluster omnis frequensque proceris arboribus benigne ad omne genus operum materiam suppeditabat, §36.22.11tum, quia refugerant intra moenia Aetoli, deserta, quae in vestibulo urbis erant, tecta in varios usus non tigna modo et tabulas sed laterem quoque et caementa et saxa variae magnitudinis praebebant.
And as the territory of Heraclea, being all swampy and thick with tall trees, generously supplied material for every kind of work, so also, because the Aetolians had fled within the walls, the deserted buildings which were in the approach to the city provided for various uses not only beams and planks but also brick, rubble, and stones of various sizes.