§37.1.1L. Cornelio Scipione C. Laelio consulibus nulla prius secundum religiones acta in senatu res est quam de Aetolis.
In the consulship of Lucius Cornelius Scipio and Gaius Laelius, no business was transacted in the senate before that concerning the Aetolians, next to religious matters.
et legati eorum institerunt, quia brevem indutiarum diem habebant, et ab T. Quinctio, qui tum Romam ex Graecia redierat, adiuti sunt.
And their ambassadors pressed their case, because they had a short term of truce, and they were assisted by Titus Quinctius, who had then returned to Rome from Greece.
§37.1.2Aetoli, ut quibus plus in misericordia senatus quam in causa spei esset, suppliciter egerunt, veteribus benefactis nova pensantes maleficia.
The Aetolians, as men who had more hope in the mercy of the senate than in their own cause, pleaded suppliantly, balancing their new misdeeds with their ancient services.
§37.1.3ceterum et praesentes interrogationibus undique senatorum, confessionem magis noxae quam responsa exprimentium, fatigati sunt, et excedere curia iussi magnum certamen praebuerunt.
However, they were both fatigued by the questions from all sides of the senators, who were extorting a confession of guilt rather than answers, and when ordered to leave the senate house, they caused a great debate.
§37.1.4plus ira quam misericordia in causa eorum valebat, quia non ut hostibus modo, sed tamquam indomitae et insociabili genti suscensebant.
Anger was more powerful in their case than mercy, because the senators were angry with them not merely as enemies, but as if with an untameable and unsociable nation.
§37.1.5per aliquot dies cum certatum esset, postremo neque dari neque negari pacem placuit; duae condiciones iis latae sunt: vel senatui liberum arbitrium de se permitterent, vel mille talentum darent eosdemque amicos atque inimicos haberent.
When they had debated for several days, it was finally resolved that peace should neither be granted nor denied; two conditions were proposed to them: either they should submit to the unconditional discretion of the senate concerning themselves, or they should pay a thousand talents and have the same friends and enemies.
§37.1.6exprimere cupientibus, quarum rerum in se arbitrium senatui permitterent, nihil certi responsum est.
When they wished to elicit in respect of what matters they were submitting themselves to the discretion of the senate, no definite answer was given.
ita infecta pace dimissi urbe eodem die, Italia intra quindecim dies excedere iussi.
Thus dismissed without a peace on the same day, they were ordered to depart from Italy within fifteen days.
§37.1.7tum de consulum provinciis coeptum agi est.
Then they began to discuss the provinces of the consuls.
ambo Graeciam cupiebant.
Both desired Greece.
multum Laelius in senatu poterat.
Laelius had great influence in the senate.
is, cum senatus aut sortiri aut comparare inter se provincias consules iussisset, elegantius facturos dixit, si iudicio patrum quam si sorti eam rem permisissent.
When the senate had ordered the consuls either to cast lots or to agree among themselves on their provinces, he said that they would act more elegantly if they entrusted the matter to the judgment of the fathers rather than to the lot.
§37.1.8Scipio responso ad hoc dato cogitaturum, quid sibi faciendum esset, cum fratre uno locutus iussusque ab eo permittere audacter senatui, renuntiat collegae facturum se, quod is censeret.
Scipio, having given an answer to this that he would consider what he ought to do, spoke with his only brother, and being bid by him to submit it boldly to the senate, announced to his colleague that he would do what he advised.
§37.1.9cum res aut nova aut vetustate exemplorum memoriae iam exoletae relata expectatione certaminis senatum erexisset, P. Scipio Africanus dixit, si L. Scipioni fratri suo provinciam Graeciam decrevissent, se ei legatum iturum.
When this matter, either unprecedented or brought back from the antiquity of examples already obsolete in memory, had raised the senate in expectation of a contest, Publius Scipio Africanus said that if they decreed the province of Greece to his brother Lucius Scipio, he would go as his legate.
§37.1.10haec vox magno adsensu audita sustulit certamen; experiri libebat, utrum plus regi Antiocho in Hannibale victo an in victore Africano consuli legionibusque Romanis auxilii foret; ac prope omnes Scipioni Graeciam, Laelio Italiam decreverunt.
This speech, heard with great approval, put an end to the dispute; they were eager to experience whether there would be more help for King Antiochus in the defeated Hannibal, or for the Roman consul and legions in the victorious Africanus; and almost all decreed Greece to Scipio, and Italy to Laelius.