§37.19.1Aemilius Eumene a Pergamo accito adhibitis et Rhodiis consilium habuit.
Aemilius, having summoned Eumenes from Pergamum and also admitting the Rhodians, held a council.
Rhodii haud aspernari pacem; Eumenes nec honestum dicere esse eo tempore de pace agi, nec exitum rei imponi posse: §37.19.2“qui enim” inquit “aut honeste, inclusi moenibus et obsessi, velut leges pacis accipiemus? aut cui rata ista pax erit, quam sine consule, non ex auctoritate senatus, non iussu populi Romani pepigerimus?
The Rhodians did not reject peace; Eumenes, however, said that it was neither honorable at that time for peace to be treated, nor could a final conclusion be imposed on the matter: "For how," he said, "either honorably, shut up within walls and besieged, shall we receive as it were laws of peace? Or to whom will that peace of yours be valid, which we shall have struck without the consul, not by the authority of the senate, not by the command of the Roman people?
§37.19.3quaero enim pace per te facta rediturusne extemplo in Italiam sis, classem exercitumque deducturus, an expectaturus, quid de ea re consuli placeat, quid senatus censeat aut populus iubeat?
For I ask, if peace is made by you, whether you are about to return immediately to Italy, about to lead back the fleet and army, or about to wait for what may please the consul concerning this matter, what the senate may decree, or the people may order?
§37.19.4restat ergo, ut maneas in Asia, et rursus in hiberna copiae reductae omisso bello exhauriant commeatibus praebendis socios, deinde, §37.19.5si ita visum iis sit, penes quos potestas fuerit, instauremus novum de integro bellum, quod possumus, si ex hoc impetu rerum nihil prolatando remittitur, §37.19.6ante hiemem diis volentibus perfecisse. ” haec sententia vicit, responsumque Antiocho est ante consulis adventum de pace agi non posse.
It remains, therefore, that you remain in Asia, and the forces, having been led back again into winter quarters, the war being abandoned, exhaust the allies by being supplied with provisions, and then, if it should seem fit to those in whose hands the power shall be, we renew a new war afresh—which we are able, if nothing of the momentum of our affairs is relaxed by delaying, to have finished before winter, the gods willing." This opinion prevailed, and the answer was given to Antiochus that before the arrival of the consul peace could not be treated.
§37.19.7Antiochus pace nequiquam temptata, evastatis Elaeensium primum, deinde Pergamenorum agris, relicto ibi Seleuco filio, Adramytteum hostiliter itinere facto petit agrum opulentum, quem vocant Thebes campum, carmine Homeri nobilitatum; §37.19.8neque alio ullo loco Asiae maior regiis militibus parta est praeda.
Antiochus, having tried for peace in vain, having first devastated the lands of the Elaeans, then of the Pergamenes, and having left his son Seleucus there, made his way hostilely to Adramyttium and sought the wealthy region which they call the Plain of Thebe, made famous by the song of Homer; nor in any other place in Asia was greater booty acquired by the king's soldiers.
eodem Adramytteum, ut urbi praesidio essent, navibus circumvecti Aemilius et Eumenes venerunt.
To the same Adramyttium, so that they might be a protection to the city, Aemilius and Eumenes came, having sailed around in their ships.