§42.39.1et tum quidem ab Dio Perseus in interiora regni recepit se, levi aura spei obiecta, quod Marcius ipsius causa suscepisse se legationem dixisset; §42.39.2post dies paucos ad constitutum locum venerunt.
And at that time, indeed, Perseus withdrew from Dium into the interior of his kingdom, presented with a slight breeze of hope, because Marcius had said that he had undertaken the embassy for his sake; after a few days they came to the appointed place.
magnus comitatus fuit regius cum amicorum tum satellitum turba stipante.
The royal retinue was large, thronged by a crowd of both friends and bodyguards.
non minore agmine legati venerunt et ab Larisa multis prosequentibus et legationibus civitatium, quae convenerant Larisam et renuntiare domum certa, quae audissent, volebant.
The commissioners came with no smaller train, both with many accompanying them from Larisa, and with the embassies of the cities which had assembled at Larisa and wished to report back home certain things they had heard.
§42.39.3inerat cura insita mortalibus videndi congredientis nobilem regem et populi principis terrarum omnium legatos.
There was an interest inherent in mortals to see the meeting of a famous king and the ambassadors of the sovereign people of all lands.
§42.39.4ut in conspectu steterunt, dirimente amni, paulisper internuntiando cunctatio fuit, utri transgrederentur.
When they stood in sight of each other, with the river dividing them, there was a brief hesitation during the exchange of messengers as to which of them should cross over.
aliquid illi regiae maiestati, aliquid hi populi Romani nomini, cum praesertim Perseus petisset conloquium, existumabant deberi.
The former thought that something was due to the royal majesty, the latter to the name of the Roman people, especially since Perseus had requested the conference.
§42.39.5ioco etiam Marcius cunctantis movit.
Marcius also moved those who were hesitating with a jest.
“minor” inquit “ad maiores et” — quod Philippo ipsi cognomen erat — “filius ad patrem transeat. ” facile persuasum id regi est.
"Let the younger," he said, "cross over to the older, and" — since Philippus was his own surname — "the son to the father." This was easily persuaded to the king.
§42.39.6aliud deinde ambigebatur, cum quam multis transiret.
Then another matter was disputed, with how many he should cross.
rex cum omni comitatu transire aecum censebat; legati vel cum tribus venire iubebant vel, si tantum agmen traduceret, obsides dare, nihil fraudis fore in conloquio.
The king thought it fair to cross with his entire retinue; the commissioners ordered him either to come with three, or, if he brought over so great a train, to give hostages that there would be no treachery in the conference.
§42.39.7Hippian et Pantauchum, quos et legatos miserat, principes amicorum, obsides dedit.
He gave as hostages Hippias and Pantauchus, the chief of his friends, whom he had also sent as ambassadors.
nec tam in pignus fidei obsides desiderati erant, quam ut appareret sociis nequaquam ex dignitate pari congredi regem cum legatis.
And the hostages had not been desired so much as a pledge of faith, but rather so that it might appear to the allies that the king was by no means meeting with the commissioners on equal dignity.
§42.39.8salutatio non tamquam hostium, sed hospitalis ac benigna fuit, positisque sedibus consederunt.
The greeting was not as of enemies, but hospitable and friendly, and after seats were placed, they sat down.