§42.46.1Perseus, cum ab conloquio Romanorum in Macedoniam recepisset sese, legatos Romam de incohatis cum Marcio condicionibus pacis misit; et Byzantium et Rhodum et legatis ferendas dedit.
Perseus, when he had returned to Macedonia from the conference with the Romans, sent ambassadors to Rome regarding the conditions of peace initiated with Marcius; and he also gave [letters] to be carried by ambassadors to Byzantium and Rhodes and <...>.
§42.46.2in litteris eadem sententia ad omnis erat, conlocutum se cum Romanorum legatis; quae audisset quaeque dixisset, ita disposita, ut superior fuisse in disceptatione videri posset.
In the letters the purport to all was the same, that he had held a conference with the Roman commissioners; and what he had heard and what he had said were so arranged that he might appear to have been superior in the discussion.
§42.46.3apud Rhodios legati adiecerunt confidere pacem futuram; auctoribus enim Marcio atque Atilio missos Romam legatos.
Before the Rhodians, the ambassadors added that they were confident that there would be peace; for it was at the suggestion of Marcius and Atilius that the ambassadors had been sent to Rome.
si pergerent Romani contra foedus movere bellum, tum omni gratia, omni ope adnitendum fore Rhodiis, ut reconcilient pacem; §42.46.4si nihil deprecando proficiant, id agendum, ne omnium rerum ius ac potestas ad unum populum perveniat.
If the Romans should proceed to wage war contrary to the treaty, then the Rhodians must strive with all their influence and all their resources to restore peace; if they should gain nothing by entreaty, they must take care that the right and power over all things should not fall into the hands of a single nation.
cum ceterorum id interesse, tum praecipue Rhodiorum, quo plus inter alias civitates dignitate atque opibus excellant; quae serva atque obnoxia fore, si nullus alio sit quam ad Romanos respectus.
While this concerned all others, it especially concerned the Rhodians, in proportion as they excelled other states in dignity and wealth; which would be enslaved and dependent if there were no other recourse than to the Romans.
§42.46.5magis et litterae et verba legatorum benigne sunt audita, quam. momentum ad mutandos animos habuerunt; potentior esse partis melioris auctoritas coeperat.
Both the letters and the words of the ambassadors were heard with favor rather than having any weight to change their minds; the authority of the better party had begun to be more powerful.
§42.46.6responsum ex decreto est optare pacem Rhodios; si bellum esset, ne quid ab Rhodiis speraret aut peteret rex, quod veterem amicitiam, multis magnisque meritis pace belloque partam, diiungeret sibi ac Romanis.
It was answered in accordance with a decree, that the Rhodians wished for peace; if there should be war, the king must not expect or ask anything from the Rhodians that would sever the ancient friendship between themselves and the Romans, won in peace and war by many great services.
§42.46.7ab Rhodo redeuntes Boeotiae quoque civitates, Thebas et Coroneam et Haliartum, adierunt, quibus expressum invitis existimabatur, ut relicta regia societate Romanis adiungerentur.
Returning from Rhodes, they also visited the states of Boeotia—Thebes, Coronea, and Haliartus—which were believed to have been forced against their will to abandon their alliance with the king and join the Romans.
§42.46.8Thebani nihil moti sunt, quamquam et damnatis principibus et restitutis exulibus suscensebant Romanis.
The Thebans were not at all moved, although they were resentful toward the Romans both because of the condemned leading men and the restored exiles.
§42.46.9Coronaei et Haliartii, favore quodam insito in reges, legatos in Macedoniam miserunt praesidium petentes, quo se adversus inpotentem superbiam Thebanorum tueri possint.
The Coroneans and Haliartians, from an innate favor toward the kings, sent ambassadors into Macedonia to ask for a garrison, so that they might protect themselves against the unrestrained insolence of the Thebans.
§42.46.10cui legationi responsum ab rege est, praesidium se propter indutias cum Romanis factas mittere non posse; tamen ita suadere ab Thebanorum iniuriis, qua possent, ut se vindicarent, ne Romanis praeberent causam in se saeviendi.
To this embassy, the answer given by the king was that he could not send a garrison on account of the truce made with the Romans; yet he advised them to defend themselves from the wrongs of the Thebans by whatever means they could, so as not to give the Romans a reason for venting their rage upon them.