§36.28.1postquam ad consulem ventum est, Phaeneas legationis princeps longam orationem et varie ad mitigandam iram victoris compositam ita ad extremum finivit, ut diceret Aetolos se suaque omnia fidei populi Romani permittere.
After they had come to the consul, Phaeneas, the leader of the embassy, ended a long speech, which had been composed in various ways to soften the victor's anger, in such a way at the very last as to say that the Aetolians surrendered themselves and all their possessions to the good faith of the Roman people.
§36.28.2id consul ubi audivit, “etiam atque etiam videte” inquit, “Aetoli, ut ita permittatis. ” tum decretum Phaeneas, in quo id diserte scriptum erat, ostendit.
When the consul heard this, he said, 'See to it again and again, Aetolians, that you surrender in this way.' Then Phaeneas showed him the decree in which this was explicitly written.
§36.28.3“quando ergo” inquit “ita permittitis, postulo, ut mihi Dicaearchum civem vestrum et Menestam Epirotam” — Naupactum is cum praesidio ingressus ad defectionem compulerat — “et Amynandrum cum principibus Athamanum, quorum consilio ab nobis defecistis, sine mora dedatis. ” §36.28.4prope dicentem interfatus Romanum “non in servitutem” inquit, “sed in fidem tuam nos tradidimus, et certum habeo te imprudentia labi, qui nobis imperes, §36.28.5quae moris Graecorum non sint. ” ad ea consul “nec hercule” inquit “magnopere nunc curo, quid Aetoli satis ex more Graecorum factum esse censeant, dum ego more Romano imperium inhibeam in deditos modo decreto suo, ante armis victos; §36.28.6itaque, ni propere fit, quod impero, vinciri vos iam iubebo. ” adferri catenas et circumsistere lictores iussit.
'Since, therefore,' he said, 'you surrender in this way, I demand that you deliver to me without delay Dicaearchus, your citizen, and Menestas the Epirot'—who had entered Naupactus with a garrison and forced it to defect—'and Amynander with the chiefs of the Athamanians, by whose advice you defected from us.' Interrupting the Roman as he was almost done speaking, he said, 'We have surrendered ourselves not into slavery, but into your good faith, and I am certain that you are slipping into an error through thoughtlessness in commanding us to do what is not in accordance with the custom of the Greeks.' To this the consul replied, 'By Hercules, I do not care much now what the Aetolians think is done sufficiently according to the custom of the Greeks, as long as I, in the Roman custom, exercise my authority over those who have just surrendered by their own decree, having previously been conquered by arms; therefore, unless what I command is done quickly, I will now order you to be bound.' He ordered chains to be brought and the lictors to stand around them.
tum fracta Phaeneae ferocia Aetolisque aliis est, et tandem cuius condicionis essent senserunt, §36.28.7et Phaeneas se quidem et qui adsint Aetolorum scire facienda esse, quae imperentur, dixit, sed ad decernenda ea concilio Aetolorum opus esse; ad id petere ut decem dierum indutias daret.
Then the fierceness of Phaeneas and the other Aetolians was broken, and they finally realized what condition they were in, and Phaeneas said that he himself indeed and those of the Aetolians who were present knew that what was commanded must be done, but to decree these things there was need of a council of the Aetolians; for this purpose he asked that he grant a ten days' truce.
§36.28.8petente Flacco pro Aetolis indutiae datae, et Hypatam reditum est.
At the request of Flaccus on behalf of the Aetolians, the truce was granted, and they returned to Hypata.
ubi cum in consilio delectorum, quos apocletos vocant, Phaeneas, et quae imperarentur et quae ipsis prope accidissent, §36.28.9exposuisset, ingemuerunt quidem principes condicioni suae, parendum tamen victori censebant et ex omnibus oppidis convocandos Aetolos ad concilium.
When Phaeneas, in the council of the selectmen whom they call apocleti, had explained both what was commanded and what had almost happened to themselves, the chiefs indeed lamented their condition, but nevertheless thought that they must obey the victor and that the Aetolians should be summoned from all the towns to a council.