§43.20.1hi transgressi iugum Scordi montis, per Illyrici solitudines, quas de industria populando Macedones fecerant, ne transitus faciles Dardanis in Illyricum aut Macedoniam essent, Scodram labore ingenti tandem pervenerunt.
Having crossed the ridge of Mount Scordus, they passed through the deserts of Illyria, which the Macedonians had purposely made desolate by devastating them, lest there should be easy passages for the Dardanians into Illyria or Macedonia, and at last arrived at Scodra with immense labor.
§43.20.2Lissi rex Gentius erat.
King Gentius was at Lissus.
eo acciti legati, qui mandata exponentes benigne auditi sunt; responsum sine effectu tulerunt, voluntatem sibi non deesse ad bellandum cum Romanis; ceterum ad conandum id, quod velit, pecuniam maxime deesse.
Summoned thither, the ambassadors, setting forth their instructions, were kindly heard; but they brought back an answer of no effect: that inclination was not lacking to him to wage war with the Romans, but for attempting what he wished, money was above all lacking.
§43.20.3haec Stuberram rettulere regi tum maxime captivos ex Illyrico vendenti.
They brought these tidings back to Stuberra, to the king, who was just then especially busy selling the captives from Illyria.
extemplo iidem legati, addito Glaucia ex numero custodum corporis, remittuntur sine mentione pecuniae, qua una barbarus inops inpelli ad bellum poterat.
Immediately the same ambassadors, with the addition of Glaucias from the number of the bodyguards, were sent back without any mention of money, by which alone the needy barbarian could be impelled to war.
§43.20.4Ancyram inde populatus Perseus in Penestas rursus exercitum reducit firmatisque Uscanae et circa eam per omnia castella, quae receperat, praesidiis in Macedoniam sese recipit.
Having then devastated Ancyra, Perseus led his army back again into the territory of the Penestae, and, having strengthened the garrisons at Uscana and in all the forts around it which he had recovered, withdrew into Macedonia.