§42.30.1haec sententia regibus cum esset de bello, in liberis gentibus populisque plebs ubique omnis ferme, ut solet, deterioris erat, ad regem Macedonasque inclinata;
While such was the attitude of the kings towards the war, among the free nations and peoples the common people almost everywhere, as is their custom, were inclined to the worse side, favoring the king and the Macedonians.
§42.30.2principum diversa cerneres studia.
One could have seen diverse inclinations among the leading men.
pars ita in Romanos effusi erant, ut auctoritatem inmodico favore corrumperent, §42.30.3pauci ex iis iustitia imperii Romani capti, plures ita, si praecipuam operam navassent, potentes sese in civitatibus suis futuros rati.
A part of them was so devoted to the Romans that they ruined their own authority by their immoderate favor; few of them were captivated by the justice of the Roman empire, while the majority were so because they thought they would become powerful in their own states if they exerted extraordinary efforts.
§42.30.4pars altera regiae adulationis erat; quosdam aes alienum et desperatio rerum suarum eodem manente statu praecipites ad novanda omnia agebat; quosdam ventosum ingenium, quia ad Persea magis aura popularis ierat.
Another part was of the king's sycophancy; some were driven headlong to revolutionize everything by debt and despair over their own affairs if the state of things remained the same; others by a windy disposition, because the popular favor had blown more towards Perseus.
§42.30.5tertia pars, optuma eadem et prudentissima, si utique optio domini potioris daretur, sub Romanis quam sub rege malebat esse; §42.30.6si liberum in ea re arbitrium fortunae esset, neutram partem volebant potentiorem altera oppressa fieri, sed inlibatis potius viribus utriusque partis pacem ex aequo manere; ita inter utrasque optimam condicionem civitatium fore. protegente altera semper inopem ab alterius iniuria.
A third part, which was also the best and wisest, if indeed a choice of a preferable master were given, preferred to be under the Romans than under the king; if fortune should allow a free decision in that matter, they wished neither side to become more powerful by the oppression of the other, but rather that, with the strength of both sides unimpaired, peace should remain on equal terms; for thus, between the two, the condition of the states would be best, with the one always protecting the weak from the injustice of the other.
§42.30.7haec sentientes certamina fautorum utriusque partis taciti ex tuto spectabant.
Those who felt this way watched the struggles of the supporters of both sides in silence from a safe place.
§42.30.8consules, quo die magistratum inierunt, ex senatus consulto cum circa omnia fana, in quibus lectisternium maiorem partem anni esse solet, maioribus hostiis immolassent, inde preces suas acceptas ab diis immortalibus ominati, senatui rite sacrificatum precationemque de bello factam renuntiarunt.
The consuls, on the day they entered office, having sacrificed larger victims in accordance with a decree of the senate around all the shrines in which a lectisternium is accustomed to be for the greater part of the year, and having thence presaged that their prayers were accepted by the immortal gods, reported to the senate that the sacrifice had been duly performed and the prayer concerning the war had been made.
§42.30.9haruspices ita responderunt: si quid rei novae inciperetur, id maturandum esse; victoriam, triumphum, propagationem imperiiportendi.
The haruspices answered thus: if any new enterprise were to be begun, it should be hastened; victory, triumph, and the extension of the empire were portended.
§42.30.10patres, quod bonum faustum felixque populo Romano esset, centuriatis comitiis primo quoque die ferre ad populum consules iusserunt, ut, quod Perseus Philippi filius, Macedonum rex, adversus foedus cum patre Philippo ictum et secum post mortem eius renovatum sociis populi Romani arma intulisset, agros vastasset urbesque occupasset, quodque belli parandi adversus populum Romanum consilia inisset, arma milites classem eius rei causa comparasset, ut, nisi de iis rebus satisfecisset, bellum cum eo iniretur.
The senators, praying that it might be good, auspicious, and fortunate for the Roman people, ordered the consuls to propose to the people at the centuriate assembly on the very first available day: that, whereas Perseus, son of Philip, king of the Macedonians, contrary to the treaty struck with his father Philip and renewed with himself after his death, had brought arms against the allies of the Roman people, devastated their fields, and occupied their cities, and whereas he had entered into counsels for preparing war against the Roman people, and for that purpose had collected arms, soldiers, and a fleet, unless he made satisfaction concerning these matters, war should be entered into with him.
§42.30.11haec rogatio ad populum lata est.
This proposal was brought before the people.