§38.3.1Amynander recuperato regno legatos et Romam ad senatum et ad Scipiones in Asiam, Ephesi post magnum cum Antiocho proelium morantes, misit.
Amynander, having recovered his kingdom, sent envoys both to Rome to the senate and to Asia to the Scipios, who were staying at Ephesus after the great battle with Antiochus.
§38.3.2pacem petebat excusabatque sese, quod per Aetolos recuperasset paternum regnum; Philippum incusabat.
He sued for peace and excused himself on the ground that he had recovered his ancestral kingdom through the Aetolians; he accused Philip.
§38.3.3Aetoli ex Athamania in Amphilochos profecti sunt et maioris partis voluntate in ius dicionemque totam redegerunt gentem.
The Aetolians set out from Athamania to the Amphilochians and, with the consent of the greater part, brought the entire nation under their law and dominion.
§38.3.4Amphilochia recepta — nam fuerat quondam Aetolorum — eadem spe in Aperantiam transcenderunt; ea quoque magna ex parte sine certamine in deditionem venit.
Amphilochia having been recovered — for it had once belonged to the Aetolians — they crossed over into Aperantia with the same hope; that place also surrendered for the most part without a contest.
Dolopes numquam Aetolorum fuerant, Philippi erant.
The Dolopians had never belonged to the Aetolians, they belonged to Philip.
§38.3.5hi primo ad arma concurrerunt; ceterum postquam Amphilochos cum Aetolis esse fugamque ex Athamania Philippi et caedem praesidii eius accepere, et ipsi a Philippo ad Aetolos deficiunt.
These at first rushed to arms; but after they learned that the Amphilochians were with the Aetolians, and heard of Philip's flight from Athamania and the slaughter of his garrison, they too revolted from Philip to the Aetolians.
§38.3.6quibus circumiectis gentibus iam undique se a Macedonibus tutos credentibus esse Aetolis fama adfertur Antiochum in Asia victum ab Romanis; nec ita multo post legati ab Roma rediere sine spe pacis Fulviumque consulem nuntiantes cum exercitu iam traiecisse.
While the Aetolians, with these surrounding nations subdued, believed themselves now safe on all sides from the Macedonians, news was brought that Antiochus had been defeated by the Romans in Asia; and not long afterwards, the envoys returned from Rome bringing no hope of peace and reporting that the consul Fulvius had already crossed over with his army.
§38.3.7his territi, prius ab Rhodo et Athenis legationibus excitis, ut per auctoritatem earum civitatium suae preces nuper repudiatae faciliorem aditum ad senatum haberent, principes gentis ad temptandam spem ultimam Romam miserunt, §38.3.8nihil, ne bellum haberent, priusquam paene in conspectu hostis erat, praemeditati.
Terrified by these tidings, having first summoned embassies from Rhodes and Athens, so that through the authority of those states their recently rejected prayers might have easier access to the senate, they sent the chief men of their nation to Rome to try their last hope, having premeditated nothing to avoid having war, until the enemy was almost in sight.
Now M.
§38.3.9iam M. Fulvius Apolloniam exercitu traiecto cum Epirotarum principibus consultabat, unde bellum inciperet.
Fulvius, having crossed over with his army to Apollonia, was consulting with the chiefs of the Epirots from where he should begin the war.
Epirotis Ambraciam placebat adgredi, quae tum contribuerat se Aetolis: §38.3.10sive ad tuendam eam venirent Aetoli, apertos circa campos ad dimicandum esse; sive detractarent certamen, oppugnationem fore haud difficilem; §38.3.11nam et copiam in propinquo materiae ad aggeres excitandos et cetera opera esse, et Arethontem, navigabilem amnem, opportunum ad comportanda, quae usui sint, praeter ipsa moenia fluere, et aestatem aptam rei gerendae adesse.
It pleased the Epirots to attack Ambracia, which had then allied itself with the Aetolians: arguing that if the Aetolians should come to defend it, there were open plains around for fighting; or if they should decline a contest, the siege would not be difficult; for there was an abundance of timber nearby for raising mounds and other siege works, and the Arethos, a navigable river, convenient for bringing in what was useful, flowed right past the very walls, and summer, suitable for conducting operations, was at hand.
his persuaserunt, ut per Epirum duceret.
By these arguments they persuaded him to lead his army through Epirus.