As for myself would, as regards other matters, make any necessary concession to my neighbours without disputing it, but I would never, as long as I could help, yield to any men alive in my friendship with you and the goodwill I bear you.
And I think my father, were he still alive, would give utterance to the same words.
For he, who was, I think, the first of the inhabitants Asia and Greece to gain your friendship and alliance, most nobly maintained these until the day of his death, and not only in principle, but by actual deeds,
taking part in all your wars in Greece and furnishing for these wars larger military and naval forces than any other of your allies; contributing the greatest quantity of supplies and incurring the greatest danger;
and finally ending his days in the field of action during the war with Philip, while he was actually exhorting the Boeotians to become your friends and allies.
On succeeding to the throne I adhered to my father's principles — those indeed it was impossible to surpass; but I surpassed him in putting them into practice;
because the times were such as to try me as by fire in a way he never had been tried.
For when Antiochus was anxious to give me his daughter in marriage, and to cement our union in every respect, giving me back at once the cities he had formerly alienated from me, and next promising to do everything for me if I would take part in the war against you,
I was so far from accepting any of these offers that I fought at your side against Antiochus with larger naval and military forces than any other of your allies, and contributed the greatest quantity of supplies to meet your needs when they were most urgent: I shared unhesitatingly with your generals the danger of all the battles that were fought,
and finally suffered myself to be besieged in Pergamus itself and risk my life as well as my kingdom, all for the sake of the goodwill I bore to your people.
Walbank Commentary