Liv. 21.20.1In iīs nova terribilisque speciēs vīsa est, quod armātī — ita mōs gentis erat — in concilium vēnērunt.There they saw a new and frightening sight, because the men came to the council armed — such was the custom of the nation. Liv. 21.20.2Cum verbīs extollentēs glōriam virtūtemque populī Rōmānī ac magnitūdinem imperiī petīssent, nē Poenō bellum Ītaliae īnferentī per agrōs urbēsque suās trānsitum darent, tantus cum fremitū rīsus dīcitur ortus, ut vix ā magistrātibus maiōribusque nātū iuventūs sēdārētur;When, after extolling in words the glory and valour of the Roman people and the greatness of its empire, they had asked them not to grant the Carthaginian passage through their fields and cities as he brought war against Italy, such laughter mixed with uproar is said to have broken out that the young men could scarcely be quietened by the magistrates and elders; Liv. 21.20.4adeō stolida inpudēnsque postulātiō vīsa est cēnsēre, nē in Ītaliam trānsmittant Gallī bellum, ipsōs id āvertere in sē agrōsque suōs prō aliēnīs populandōs obicere.so stupid and shameless did the demand seem, to propose that, so that the Gauls should not let the war pass into Italy, they should turn it upon themselves and expose their own fields to be plundered instead of other men's.
Liv. 21.20.5Sēdātō tandem fremitū respōnsum lēgātīs est, neque Rōmānōrum in sē meritum esse neque Carthāginiēnsium iniūriam, ob quae aut prō Rōmānīs aut adversus Poenōs sūmant arma;When the uproar had at last died down, the envoys were answered that the Gauls had received neither kindness from the Romans nor injury from the Carthaginians on account of which they should take up arms either for the Romans or against the Carthaginians; Liv. 21.20.6contrā ea audīre sēsē, gentis suae hominēs agrō fīnibusque Ītaliae pellī ā populō Rōmānō stīpendiumque pendere et cētera indigna patī.on the contrary, they heard that men of their own race were being driven from the land and territory of Italy by the Roman people, were paying tribute and suffering other indignities. Liv. 21.20.7Eadem ferme in cēterīs Galliae conciliīs dicta audītaque;Much the same was said and heard in the other councils of Gaul; Liv. 21.20.7nec hospitāle quicquam pācātumve satis prius audītum, quam Massiliam vēnēre.nor did they hear anything hospitable or peaceful enough until they reached Massilia. Liv. 21.20.8Ibi omnia ab sociīs inquīsīta cum cūrā ac fidē cognitā: praeoccupātōs iam ante ab Hannibale Gallōrum animōs esse;There they learned everything, investigated by their allies with care and good faith: the minds of the Gauls had already been won over in advance by Hannibal; Liv. 21.20.8sed nē illī quidem ipsī satis mītem gentem fore — adeō ferōcia atque indomita ingenia esse — , nī subinde aurō, cuius avidissima gēns est, prīncipum animī concilientur.but even to him the nation would not be gentle enough — so fierce and untamed were their natures — unless the minds of the chiefs were won over again and again with gold, of which the nation is most greedy.
Liv. 21.20.9Ita peragrātīs Hispāniae Galliaeque populīs lēgātī Rōmam redeunt haud ita multō post, quam cōnsulēs in prōvinciās profectī erant.So, having travelled among the peoples of Spain and Gaul, the envoys return to Rome not very long after the consuls had set out for their provinces. Liv. 21.20.9Cīvitātem omnem expectātiōne bellī ērēctam invēnērunt, satis cōnstante fāmā iam Hibērum Poenōs trānsīsse.They found the whole state roused by the expectation of war, since the report was now fairly constant that the Carthaginians had crossed the Ebro.