§44.20.1his intra triduum simul cum legatis Alexandrinis profectis legati ex Macedonia quinquatribus ultimis adeo expectati venerunt, ut, nisi vesper esset, extemplo senatum vocaturi consules fuerint.
These legates having set out within three days along with the Alexandrian legates, the legates from Macedonia arrived on the last day of the Quinquatrus, so eagerly expected that, had it not been evening, the consuls would have immediately summoned the senate.
§44.20.2postero die senatus fuit legatique auditi sunt.
On the following day, the senate met and the legates were heard.
ii nuntiant maiore periculo quam emolumento exercitum per invios saltus in Macedoniam inductum.
They reported that the army had been led through pathless passes into Macedonia with greater danger than advantage.
§44.20.3Pieriam, quo processisset, regem tenere; castra castris prope ita conlata esse, ut flumine Elpeo interiecto arceantur.
They said that the king held Pieria, where the army had advanced, and that their camps were pitched so close to each other that they were separated only by the intervening river Elpeus.
neque regem pugnandi potestatem facere, nec nostris vim ad cogendum esse.
Neither did the king offer any opportunity for battle, nor did our men have the strength to force one.
§44.20.4hiemem etiam insuper rebus gerendis intervenisse.
In addition, winter had interrupted military operations.
in otio militem ali, nec plus quam VI dierum frumentum habere.
The soldiers were being maintained in idleness and had no more than six days' grain.
Macedonum dici triginta milia armatorum esse.
The armed forces of the Macedonians were said to number thirty thousand.
§44.20.5si Ap. Claudio circa Lychnidum satis validus exercitus foret, potuisse eum ancipiti bello distinere regem: nunc et Appium, et quod cum eo praesidii sit, in summo periculo esse, nisi propere aut iustus exercitus eo mittatur, aut illi inde deducantur.
If Appius Claudius had a sufficiently strong army near Lychnidus, he could have distracted the king with a war on two fronts; but now, both Appius and the force he had with him were in the greatest danger, unless either a regular army was quickly sent there or they were withdrawn from that place.
§44.20.6ad classem se ex castris profectos sociorum navalium partem morbo audisse absumptam, partem, maxime qui ex Sicilia fuerint, domos suas abisse, et homines navibus deesse; qui sint, neque stipendium accepisse neque vestimenta habere.
When they themselves set out from the camp to the fleet, they heard that part of the naval allies had been carried off by disease, and part, especially those from Sicily, had gone to their homes, so that there was a shortage of men for the ships; and those who were present had neither received pay nor had clothing.
§44.20.7Eumenen classemque eius, tamquam vento adlatas naves, sine causa et venisse et abisse; nec animum eius regis constare satis visum.
Eumenes and his fleet, like ships driven by the wind, had both come and gone without reason, nor did the mind of that king seem sufficiently steadfast.
sicut omnia de Eumene dubia, ita Attali egregie constantem fidem nuntiabant.
While everything concerning Eumenes was doubtful, they reported that the loyalty of Attalus was remarkably constant.