As soon as he had a fitting opportunity, he spoke to Scipio according to his instructions.
These were to tell him that in the first place the king would restore his son to him without ransom — for at the beginning of the war Scipio's son had happened to fall into the hands of Antiochus;
secondly that he was ready to give to Scipio at present any sum he named and afterwards to share the revenue of his kingdom with him, if he helped him now to obtain the terms of peace he proposed.
Scipio answered that he accepted the promise about his son, and would be most grateful to Antiochus if he fulfilled it;
but as to the rest he made a great mistake and had entirely failed to recognize the king's own true interest not only in this private interview with himself, but at his audience before the Council.
For had he made these proposals while he was still master of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lysimachia&groupId=719&placeId=1319">Lysimachia</a> and the approach to the Chersonese, he would soon have obtained his terms.
Or again, even after retiring from those positions, had he proceeded to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a> with his army, and showing that he would prevent our crossing, had sent to propose the same terms, it would still have been possible for him to obtain them.
"But now," he said, "that he has allowed our army to land in Asia, when after letting himself not only be bitted but mounted he comes to us asking for peace on equal terms he naturally fails to get it and is foiled in his hopes."
He advised him, therefore, to take better counsel in his present situation and look facts in the face.
In return for his promise about his son, he would give him a piece of advice equal in value to the favour he offered, and that was to consent to everything and avoid at all cost a battle with the Romans.
Heracleides, after listening to this, returned, and on joining the king, gave him a detailed report.
But Antiochus, thinking that no more severe demands than the present could be imposed on him even if he were worsted in a battle, ceased to occupy himself with peace, and began to make every preparation and avail himself of every resource for the struggle.
Walbank Commentary