§42.17.1sub idem tempus C. Valerius ex Graecia, quo legatus ad visendum statum regionis eius speculandaque consilia Persei regis ierat, rediit, congruentiaque omnia criminibus ab Eumene adlatis referebat.
About the same time, C. Valerius returned from Greece, where he had gone as an envoy to inspect the state of that region and to spy on the plans of King Perseus; and he reported that everything agreed with the charges brought by Eumenes.
§42.17.2simul et adduxerat secum Praxo a Delphis, cuius domus receptaculum latronum fuerat, et L. Rammium Brundisinum, qui talis indicii delator erat. §42.17.3princeps Brundisi Rammius fuit; hospitioque et duces Romanos omnes et legatos, exterarum quoque gentium insignis, praecipue regios, accipiebat.
At the same time he had also brought with him Praxo from Delphi, whose house had been a shelter for the bandits, and L. Rammius of Brundisium, who was the informer of this disclosure. Rammius was a leading man of Brundisium; and by his hospitality he used to receive all the Roman generals and envoys, as well as distinguished men of foreign nations, especially royal envoys.
§42.17.4ex eo notitia ei cum absente Perseo fuerat; litterisque spem amicitiae interioris magnaeque inde fortunae facientibus ad regem profectus brevi perfamiliaris haberi trahique magis, quam vellet, in aranos sermones est coeptus.
From this, he had acquired an acquaintance with Perseus, though absent; and when letters holding out hope of a closer friendship and of great fortune therefrom arrived, he set out to the king, and was soon regarded as a very intimate friend and began to be drawn, more than he wished, into secret conversations.
§42.17.5promissis enim ingentibus praemiis petere institit ab eo rex, quoniam duces omnes legatique Romani hospitio eius uti adsuessent, quibus eorum ipse scripsisset, ut venenum dandum curaret.
For the king, promising immense rewards, began to urge him that, since all the Roman generals and envoys were accustomed to use his hospitality, he should take care to administer poison to whichever of them he himself should write to him about.
§42.17.6cuius scire se conparationem plurimum difficultatis et periculi habere; pluribus consciis conparari; eventu praeterea incerto esse, ut aut satis efficacia ad rem peragendam aut tuta ad rem celandam dentur.
He said that he knew that the preparation of such poison involved the greatest difficulty and danger; that it was prepared with too many accomplices; and moreover that the outcome was uncertain, as to whether they are given with sufficient strength to accomplish the deed or with safety to conceal it.
§42.17.7se daturum, quod nec in dando nec datum ullo signo deprendi posset.
He himself would give one which could not be detected by any sign, either while being administered or after it had been given.
§42.17.8Rammius veritus, ne, si abnuisset, primus ipse veneni experimentum esset, facturum pollicitus proficiscitur; nec Brundisium ante redire, quam convento C. Valerio legato, qui circa Chalcidem esse dicebatur, voluit.
Rammius, fearing lest, if he refused, he himself should be the first to experience the poison, having promised that he would do it, set out; and he did not wish to return to Brundisium before he had met the envoy C. Valerius, who was said to be around Chalcis.
§42.17.9ad eum primum indicio delato, iussu eius Romam simul venit.
Having first disclosed the information to him, by his order he came to Rome along with him.
introductus in curiam, quae acta erant, exposuit.
Having been introduced into the senate-house, he laid before them what had taken place.