§45.18.1omnium primum liberos esse placebat Macedonas atque Illyrios, ut omnibus gentibus appareret arma populi Romani non liberis servitutem, sed contra servientibus libertatem adferre, §45.18.2ut et, in libertate gentes quae essent, tutam eam sibi perpetuamque sub tutela populi Romani esse, et, quae sub regibus viverent, et in praesens tempus mitiores eos iustioresque respectu populi Romani habere se crederent et, si quando bellum cum populo Romano regibus fuisset suis, exitum eius victoriam Romanis adlaturum, sibi libertatem.
First of all, it was resolved that the Macedonians and Illyrians should be free, so that it might be apparent to all nations that the arms of the Roman people did not bring servitude to the free, but on the contrary, brought liberty to those who were enslaved; and that both those nations which were in enjoyment of liberty might believe that this liberty was safe for them and everlasting under the protection of the Roman people, and those which lived under kings might believe that even for the present time their kings held them more mildly and justly out of respect for the Roman people, and, if ever there should be war between their kings and the Roman people, its issue would bring victory to the Romans and liberty to themselves.
§45.18.3metalli quoque Macedonici, quod ingens vectigal erat, locationes praediorumque rusticorum tolli placebat; §45.18.4nam neque sine publicano exerceri posse et, ubi publicanus esset, ibi aut ius publicum vanum aut libertatem sociis nullam esse.
It was also resolved to abolish the leasing of the Macedonian mines, which was a source of vast revenue, and of the rustic estates; for they could not be worked without the tax-farmer, and where there was a tax-farmer, there either the public law was rendered void or there was no liberty for the allies.
§45.18.5ne ipsos quidem Macedonas id exercere posse; ubi in medio praeda administrantibus esset, ibi numquam causas seditionum et certaminis defore.
Not even the Macedonians themselves could work them; where spoil lay in the midst for those who administered it, there causes of sedition and strife would never be wanting.
§45.18.6denique ne, si commune concilium gentis esset, inprobus vulgi adsentator aliquando libertatem salubri moderatione datam ad licentiam pestilentem traheret, §45.18.7in quattuor regiones discribi Macedoniam, ut suum quaeque concilium haberet, placuit et dimidium tributi, quam quod regibus ferre soliti erant, populo Romano pendere.
Finally, lest, if there were a common council of the nation, some unprincipled flatterer of the populace might at some time turn the liberty given with wholesome moderation into pestilential license, it was resolved that Macedonia should be divided into four districts, so that each might have its own council, and that they should pay to the Roman people half the tribute which they had been accustomed to pay to their kings.
§45.18.8similia his et in Illyricum mandata.
Instructions similar to these were also given for Illyricum.
cetera ipsis imperatoribus legatisque relicta, in quibus praesens tractatio rerum certiora subiectura erat consilia.
The rest was left to the commanders and commissioners themselves, in which matters the hands-on handling of affairs would suggest surer counsels.