§37.54.16pro dignitate et gloria apud omne humanum genus, quod vestrum nomen imperiumque iuxta ac deos immortales iam pridem intuetur, pugnastis.
You fought for dignity and glory before the whole human race, which has long since looked upon your name and empire as equal to the immortal gods.
quae parare et quaerere arduum fuit, nescio an tueri difficilius sit.
What was difficult to prepare and acquire, I know not whether it may be more difficult to preserve.
§37.54.17gentis vetustissimae nobilissimaeque vel fama rerum gestarum vel omni commendatione humanitatis doctrinarumque tuendam ab servitio regio libertatem suscepistis; hoc patrocinium receptae in fidem et clientelam vestram universae gentis perpetuum vos praestare decet.
You undertook to defend from royal servitude the liberty of a nation most ancient and noble, either by the fame of its deeds or by every commendation of humanity and learning; it is fitting that you perform this perpetual patronage of the entire nation received into your faith and clientage.
§37.54.18non, quae in solo antiquo sunt, Graecae magis urbes sunt quam coloniae earum, illinc quondam profectae in Asiam; nec terra mutata mutavit genus aut mores.
The cities that are on the ancient soil are no more Greek than their colonies, which once set out from there into Asia; nor has the change of land changed their race or customs.
§37.54.19certare pio certamine cuiuslibet bonae artis ac virtutis ausi sumus cum parentibus quaeque civitas et conditoribus suis.
We have dared, each state, to contend in a pious rivalry of every good art and virtue with our parents and founders.
§37.54.20adistis Graeciae, adistis Asiae urbes plerique; nisi quod longius a vobis absumus, nulla vincimur alia re.
Most of you have visited the cities of Greece, and those of Asia; except for the fact that we are further away from you, we are surpassed in no other thing.
§37.54.21Massiliensis, quos, si natura insita velut ingenio terrae vinci posset, iam pridem efferassent tot indomitae circumfusae gentes, in eo honore, in ea merito dignitate audimus apud vos esse, ac si medium umbilicum Graeciae incolerent.
We hear that the Massilians, whom, if innate nature could be overcome by the character of the soil, so many untamed surrounding nations would have long since barbarized, are in such honor and well-deserved dignity among you, as if they inhabited the very center of Greece.
§37.54.22non enim sonum modo linguae vestitumque et habitum, sed ante omnia mores et leges et ingenium sincerum integrumque a contagione accolarum servarunt.
For they have preserved not only the sound of their language, clothing, and appearance, but above all their customs, laws, and sincere and intact character from the contagion of their neighbors.
§37.54.23terminus est nunc imperiivestri mons Taurus; quidquid intra eum cardinem est, nihil longinquum vobis debet videri; quo arma vestra pervenerunt, eodem ius hinc profectum perveniat.
The boundary of your empire is now Mount Taurus; whatever is within that limit ought not to seem distant to you; where your arms have reached, let the law that set out from here reach to the same place.
§37.54.24barbari, quibus pro legibus semper dominorum imperia fuerunt, quo gaudent, reges habeant; Graeci suam fortunam, vestros animos gerunt.
Let the barbarians, to whom the commands of masters have always been in place of laws, have kings, in whom they delight; the Greeks bear their own fortune, but your spirits.
§37.54.25domesticis quondam viribus etiam imperium amplectebantur; nunc imperium, ubi est, ibi ut sit perpetuum, optant; libertatem vestris tueri armis satis habent, quoniam suis non possunt.
Once they even embraced empire with their domestic strength; now they pray that the empire, where it is, may remain there perpetually; they count it enough to defend their liberty with your arms, since they cannot with their own.
§37.54.26at enim quaedam civitates cum Antiocho senserunt. et aliae prius cum Philippo, et cum Pyrrho Tarentini; ne alios populos enumerem, §37.54.27Carthago libera cum suis legibus est.
"But indeed some states sided with Antiochus." And others previously with Philip, and the Tarentines with Pyrrhus; not to enumerate other peoples, Carthage is free with its own laws.
huic vestro exemplo quantum debeatis, videte, patres conscripti; inducetis in animum negare Eumenis cupiditati, quod iustissimae irae vestrae negastis.
See, conscript fathers, how much you owe to this example of yours; will you bring yourselves to deny to the greed of Eumenes what you denied to your own most just anger?
§37.54.28Rhodii et in hoc et in omnibus bellis, quae in illa ora gessistis, quam forti fidelique vos opera adiuverimus, vestro iudicio relinquimus.
We Rhodians leave it to your judgment how bravely and faithfully we have aided you both in this and in all the wars you have waged on that coast.
nunc in pace consilium id adferimus, quod si comprobaritis, magnificentius vos victoria usos esse quam vicisse omnes existimaturi sint. ” apta magnitudini Romanae oratio visa est.
Now in peace we bring this advice, which if you approve, everyone will judge that you have used victory more magnificently than that you have conquered." The speech seemed fitting for Roman greatness.