§45.3.1ex Illyrico duo legati, C. Licinius Nerva et P. Decius, nuntiarunt exercitum Illyriorum caesum, Gentium regem captum, in dicione populi Romani Illyricum esse. §45.3.2ob eas res gestas ductu auspicioque L. Anici praetoris senatus in triduum supplicationes decrevit.
From Illyricum two legates, C. Licinius Nerva and P. Decius, reported that the army of the Illyrians had been defeated, King Gentius captured, and that Illyricum was under the sway of the Roman people. For these achievements, performed under the leadership and auspices of the praetor L. Anicius, the senate decreed a thanksgiving of three days.
indictae a consule sunt in ante diem quartum et tertium et pridie idus Novembres. §45.3.3tradidere quidam legatos Rhodios nondum dimissos post victoriam nuntiatam velut ad ludibrium stolidae superbiae in senatum vocatos esse; §45.3.4ibi Agepolim principem eorum, ita locutum: missos esse legatos ab Rhodiis ad pacem inter Romanos et Persea faciendam, §45.3.5quod id bellum grave atque incommodum Graeciae omni, sumptuosum ac damnosum ipsis Romanis esset. §45.3.6fortunam populi Romani bene fecisse, quod finito aliter bello gratulandi sibi de victoria egregia Romanis opportunitatem dedisset.
They were proclaimed by the consul for the fourth day before the Ides, the third day before the Ides, and the day before the Ides of November. Some writers have recorded that the Rhodian legates, who had not yet been dismissed, after the victory was announced, were summoned into the senate, as if to make a mockery of their foolish pride. There Agepolis, their leader, spoke as follows: that legates had been sent by the Rhodians to bring about peace between the Romans and Perseus, because that war was heavy and disadvantageous to all Greece, and costly and damaging to the Romans themselves; that the fortune of the Roman people had done well, because, the war having ended otherwise, it had given the Romans an opportunity of congratulating themselves on an outstanding victory.
haec ab Rhodio dicta.
These were the words spoken by the Rhodian.
responsum ab senatu esse: Rhodios nec utilitatium Graeciae cura neque inpensarum populi Romani sed pro Perseo legationem eam misisse. §45.3.7nam si ea fuisset cura, quae simularetur, tum mittendos legatos fuisse, cum Perseus in Thessaliam exercitu inducto per biennium Graecas urbes alias obsideret, alias denuntiatione armorum terreret; §45.3.8tum nullam pacis ab Rhodiis mentionem factam.
It was answered by the senate: that the Rhodians had sent that embassy not out of concern for the interests of Greece, nor for the expenses of the Roman people, but on behalf of Perseus. For if there had been that concern which was pretended, then legates ought to have been sent at the time when Perseus, having led his army into Thessaly, was for two years besieging some Greek cities and terrifying others with the threat of arms; at that time no mention of peace was made by the Rhodians.
postquam superatos saltus transgressosque in Macedoniam Romanos audissent et inclusum teneri Persea, tunc Rhodios legationem misisse, non ad ullam aliam rem quam ad Persea ex inminenti periculo eripiendum.
Only after they had heard that the Romans had overcome the mountain passes and crossed into Macedonia, and that Perseus was held blockaded, had the Rhodians then sent their embassy, for no other purpose than to rescue Perseus from imminent danger.
cum hoc responso legatos dimissos.
With this answer the legates were dismissed.