§42.5.1Perseus bellum iam vivo patre cogitatum in animo volvens omnis non gentes modo Graeciae, sed civitates etiam legationibus mittendis, pollicendo plura quam praestando, sibi conciliabat.
Perseus, revolving in his mind the war already planned while his father was still alive, was winning over to himself not only all the nations of Greece, but even the cities, by sending embassies and by promising more than he performed.
§42.5.2erant autem magnae partis hominum ad favorem eius inclinati animi, et aliquanto quam in Eumenem propensiores, cum Eumenis beneficiis muneribusque omnes Graeciae civitates et plerique principum obligati essent, et ita se in regno suo gereret, ut, quae sub dicione eius urbes essent, nullius liberae civitatis fortunam secum mutatam vellent.
Moreover, the minds of a great part of the people were inclined to favor him, and were considerably more disposed towards him than towards Eumenes, although all the states of Greece and most of the leading men had been bound by Eumenes' benefits and gifts, and he so conducted himself in his kingdom that the cities which were under his sway would not wish the fortune of any free state to be exchanged with their own.
§42.5.4contra Persea fama erat post patris mortem uxorem manu sua occidisse; Apellem, ministrum quondam fraudis in fratre tollendo atque ob id quaesitum a Philippo ad supplicium, exulantem accersitum post patris mortem ingentibus promissis ad praemia tantae perpetratae rei clam interfecisse.
On the other hand, there was a rumor concerning Perseus that after his father's death he had killed his wife with his own hand; and that he had secretly put to death Apelles, once the agent of the deceit in removing his brother and for that reason sought by Philip for punishment, who, when living in exile, was summoned after his father's death with great promises, as if for the rewards of so great a deed perpetrated.
§42.5.5intestinis externisque praeterea multis caedibus infamem nec ullo commendabilem merito praeferebant vulgo civitates tam pio erga propinquos, tam iusto in civis, tam munifico erga omnes homines regi, §42.5.6seu fama et maiestate Macedonum regum praeoccupati ad spernendam originem novi regni, seu mutationis rerum cupidi, seu quia sua non obiecta esse Romanis volebant.
Furthermore, the states generally preferred a man infamous for many murders, both domestic and foreign, and commendable for no merit, to a king so dutiful towards his relatives, so just towards his citizens, and so generous towards all men, whether because they were prepossessed by the fame and majesty of the Macedonian kings so as to despise the origin of the new kingdom, or because they were eager for a change of affairs, or because they did not wish their own interests to be exposed to the Romans.
§42.5.7erant autem non Aetoli modo in seditionibus propter ingentem vim aeris alieni, sed Thessali etiam; et contagione, velut tabes, in Perrhaebiam quoque id pervaserat malum.
Now not only the Aetolians were in sedition on account of a huge amount of debt, but also the Thessalians; and by contagion, like a plague, this evil had spread into Perrhaebia also.
§42.5.8cum Thessalos in armis esse nuntiatum esset, Ap. Claudium legatum ad eas res aspiciendas conponendasque senatus misit.
When it was reported that the Thessalians were in arms, the senate sent Appius Claudius as envoy to look into and settle those matters.
§42.5.9qui utriusque partis principibus castigatis, cum iniusto faenore gravatum aes alienum, ipsis magna ex parte concedentibus, qui onerarant, levasset, iusti crediti solutionem in decem annorum pensiones distribuit.
After rebuking the leading men of both parties, when he had lightened the debt burdened by unjust interest, those who had imposed the burden themselves making concessions for the most part, he distributed the payment of the just debt into ten annual installments.
§42.5.10per eundem Appium eodemque modo conpositae in Perrhaebia res.
Through the same Appius and in the same manner, matters in Perrhaebia were settled.
Aetolorum causas M. Marcellus Delphis per idem tempus iisdem hostilibus actas animis, quos intestino gesserant bello, cognovit.
Around the same time, Marcus Marcellus at Delphi heard the cases of the Aetolians, which were pleaded with the same hostile minds as they had displayed in their civil war.
§42.5.11cum certatum utrimque temeritate atque audacia cerneret, decreto quidem suo neutram partem aut levare aut onerare voluit; communiter ab utrisque petit, abstinerent bello et oblivione praeteritorum discordias finirent.
When he saw that the struggle was waged on both sides with rashness and audacity, he did not wish by his decree to relieve or burden either party; he requested of both in common that they should abstain from war and end their discords by forgetting the past.
§42.5.12huius reconciliationis inter ipsos fides obsidibus ultro citroque datis firmata est.
The pledge of this reconciliation between them was strengthened by hostages given on both sides.
Corinthus, ubi deponerentur obsides, convenit.
Corinth was agreed upon as the place where the hostages should be deposited.