§42.62.1Romani non abscedentes ab ripa Penei tulerunt in locum tutiorem castra.
The Romans, not departing from the bank of the Peneus, moved their camp to a safer place.
§42.62.2eo Misagenes Numida venit cum mille equitibus, pari peditum numero, ad hoc elephantis duobus et viginti.
To that place came Misagenes the Numidian with a thousand cavalry and an equal number of infantry, besides twenty-two elephants.
§42.62.3per eos dies consilium habenti regi de summa rerum,cum iam consedisset ferocia ab re bene gesta, ausi sunt quidam amicorum consilium dare, ut secunda fortuna in condicionem honestae pacis uteretur potius, quam spe vana evectus in casum inrevocabilem se daret.
During those days, as the king was holding a council concerning the general state of affairs, since the ferocity arising from the successful action had already subsided, some of his friends dared to advise him that he should rather use his favorable fortune for the condition of an honorable peace than, carried away by vain hope, surrender himself to an irrevocable hazard.
§42.62.4modum inponere secundis rebus nec nimis credere serenitati praesentis fortunae, prudentis hominis et merito felicis esse.
To impose a limit on prosperity and not to trust too much in the serenity of present fortune was the part of a prudent and deservedly fortunate man.
§42.62.5mitteret ad consulem, qui foedus in easdem leges renovarent, quibus Philippus pater eius pacem ab T. Quinctio victore accepisset.
He should send legates to the consul to renew the treaty on the same terms under which his father Philip had accepted peace from the victor Titus Quinctius.
§42.62.6neque finiri bellum magnificentius quam ab tam memorabili pugna posse, neque spem firmiorem pacis perpetuae dari, quam quae perculsos adverso proelio Romanos molliores factura sit ad paciscendum.
Neither could a war be concluded more magnificently than after such a memorable battle, nor was a firmer hope of perpetual peace offered than that which would make the Romans, struck by the adverse battle, more compliant to negotiate.
§42.62.7quodsi Romani tum quoque insita pertinacia aequa aspernarentur, deos hominesque et moderationis Persei et illorum pervicacis superbiae futuros testes.
But if the Romans even then, with their innate pertinacity, should spurn fair terms, gods and men would be witnesses both of the moderation of Perseus and of their persistent pride.
§42.62.8numquam ab talibus consiliis abhorrebat regis animus.
The mind of the king was never averse to such counsels.
itaque ut plurium adsensu conprobata est sententia, legati ad consulem missi; §42.62.9adhibito frequenti consilio auditi sunt.
Therefore, as the opinion was approved by the assent of the majority, legates were sent to the consul; having summoned a crowded council, they were heard.
§42.62.10pacem petiere, vectigal, quantum Philippus pactus esset, daturum Persea Romanis pollicentes; urbibus, agris locisque, quibus Philippus cessisset, cessurum quam primum.
They sought peace, promising that Perseus would give to the Romans as much tribute as Philip had agreed to, and that he would withdraw as soon as possible from the cities, lands, and places which Philip had ceded.
§42.62.11haec legati.
Thus spoke the legates.
summotis his cum consultarent, Romana constantia vicit in consilio.
When they were withdrawn and the Romans deliberated, Roman constancy prevailed in the council.
ita tum mos erat, in adversis rebus voltum secundae fortunae gerere, moderari animo in secundis.
Such was the custom then, to wear the countenance of favorable fortune in adverse circumstances, and to moderate the mind in prosperity.
§42.62.12responderi placuit, ita pacem dari, si de summa rerum liberum senatui permittat rex de se deque universa Macedonia statuendi ius.
It was resolved that the reply should be that peace would be granted only on the condition that the king should permit to the senate the free right of deciding concerning himself and the whole of Macedonia on the general state of affairs.
§42.62.13haec cum renuntiassent legati, miraculo ignaris Romani moris pertinacia esse, et plerique vetare amplius mentionem pacis facere; §42.62.14ultro mox quaesituros, quod oblatum fastidiant.
When the legates had reported these things, to those ignorant of the Roman custom, their stubbornness was a matter of wonder, and most of them forbade making mention of peace any further; they believed that the Romans would soon voluntarily seek what they now disdained when offered.
Perseus hanc ipsam superbiam — quippe ex fiducia virium esse — timere, et summam pecuniae augens, si pretio pacem emere posset, non destitit animum consulis temptare.
Perseus feared this very pride—since indeed it arose from confidence in their strength—and, increasing the sum of money, if he might buy peace at a price, did not cease to try the mind of the consul.
§42.62.15postquam nihil ex eo, quod primo responderat, mutabat, desperata pace ad Sycurium, unde profectus erat, redit, belli casum de integro temptaturus.
After the consul changed nothing of what he had first answered, despairing of peace, Perseus returned to Sycurium, whence he had set out, intending to try the fortune of war anew.