§36.26.1paucis priusquam Heraclea caperetur diebus Aetoli concilio Hypatam coacto legatos ad Antiochum miserunt, §36.26.2inter quos et Thoas idem, qui et antea, missus est.
A few days before Heraclea was captured, the Aetolians, having calling a council at Hypata, sent envoys to Antiochus, among whom was also sent the same Thoas as before.
mandata erant, ut ab rege peterent, primum ut ipse coactis rursus terrestribus navalibusque copiis in Graeciam traiceret, §36.26.3deinde, si qua ipsum teneret res, ut pecuniam et auxilia mitteret; id cum ad dignitatem eius fidemque pertinere, non prodi socios, tum etiam ad incolumitatem regni, ne sineret Romanos vacuos omni cura, §36.26.4cum Aetolorum gentem sustulissent, omnibus copiis in Asiam traicere.
Their instructions were to ask of the king, first, that he himself, having again assembled his land and sea forces, should cross over into Greece; secondly, if any circumstance should detain him, that he should send money and reinforcements; that this concerned both his dignity and good faith—so that his allies might not be betrayed—and also the safety of his kingdom, so that he would not allow the Romans, free from all anxiety, once they had destroyed the nation of the Aetolians, to cross over into Asia with all their forces.
§36.26.5vera erant, quae dicebantur; eo magis regem moverunt.
What was said was true, and on that account it moved the king all the more.
itaque in praesentia pecuniam, quae ad usus belli necessaria erat, legatis dedit; §36.26.6auxilia terrestria navaliaque adfirmavit missurum.
Therefore, for the present, he gave the envoys the money which was necessary for the expenses of the war; he assured them that he would send land and sea forces.
Thoantem unum ex legatis retinuit, et ipsum haud invitum morantem, ut exactor praesens promissorum adesset.
He detained Thoas, one of the envoys, who himself was not at all unwilling to delay, so that he might be present as a personal supervisor of the promises.