§36.32.1is post fugam ab Thermopylis Antiochi Amynandrumque a Philippo Athamania pulsum missis ultro ad Diophanen praetorem Achaeorum nuntiis pecunia pactus insulam Achaeis tradidit.
He, after the flight of Antiochus from Thermopylae and the expulsion of Amynander from Athamania by Philip, having on his own initiative sent messengers to Diophanes, the praetor of the Achaeans, and having agreed on a sum of money, handed over the island to the Achaeans.
§36.32.2id praemium belli suum esse aequum censebant Romani: non enim M’.
The Romans thought it fair that this prize of war should be theirs; for they argued that consul M'.
Acilium consulem legionesque Romanas Diophani et Achaeis ad Thermopylas pugnasse.
Acilius and the Roman legions had not fought at Thermopylae for the sake of Diophanes and the Achaeans.
§36.32.3Diophanes adversus haec purgare interdum sese gentemque, interdum de iure facti disserere.
Against these arguments, Diophanes sometimes cleared himself and his nation, and sometimes discussed the legality of the deed.
§36.32.4quidam Achaeorum et initio eam se rem aspernatos testabantur et tunc pertinaciam increpitabant praetoris; §36.32.5auctoribusque iis decretum est, ut T. Quinctio ea res permitteretur.
Some of the Achaeans testified that they had rejected that matter even from the beginning, and they then rebuked the obstinacy of the praetor; and on their advice, it was decreed that the matter should be left to Titus Quinctius.
erat Quinctius sicut adversantibus asper, ita, si cederes, idem placabilis.
Quinctius was, just as harsh to those who opposed him, so likewise placable if one yielded.
omissa contentione vocis vultusque “si utilem” inquit, “possessionem eius insulae censerem Achaeis esse, auctor essem senatui populoque Romano, ut eam vos habere sinerent; §36.32.6ceterum sicut testudinem, ubi collecta in suum tegumen est, tutam ad omnis ictus video esse, ubi exserit partis aliquas, quodcumque nudavit, obnoxium atque infirmum habere, haud dissimiliter vos, §36.32.7Achaei, clausos undique mari, quae intra Peloponnesi sunt terminos, ea et iungere vobis et iuncta tueri facile, §36.32.8simul aviditate plura amplectendi hinc excedatis, nuda vobis omnia, quae extra sint, et exposita ad omnes ictus esse. ” §36.32.9adsentienti omni concilio nec Diophane ultra tendere auso Zacynthus Romanis traditur.
Laying aside the vehemence of his voice and expression, he said, “If I thought the possession of that island were useful to the Achaeans, I would advise the senate and the Roman people to allow you to keep it; but, just as I see that a tortoise is safe from all blows when it is gathered into its shell, but when it thrusts out any parts, whatever it has exposed, it holds vulnerable and weak, not very differently you, Achaeans, enclosed on all sides by the sea, can easily both unite to yourselves those things which are within the boundaries of the Peloponnese, and protect them when united, but as soon as you depart from here out of a desire to embrace more, everything which is outside is bare to you and exposed to all blows.” With the whole council agreeing, and Diophanes not daring to contend any further, Zacynthus was handed over to the Romans.