Therefore, ye men of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, many of whom saw with your own eyes and all of whom know that what I say is true, it is but just for you to take fitting thought for my welfare.
For of all things it would be most shameful if after making Massanissa, who was once your enemy and finally sought safety with your accompanied by only a few horsemen, king of the greater part of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, simply because he kept faith with you in one war against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>:
if after making Pleuratus, who did absolutely nothing except maintain his faith to you, the greatest prince in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a>,
you now ignore myself, who from my father's days onwards have taken part in your greatest and most splendid achievements
What is it then that I beg of you and what do I think you ought to do for me?
I will speak quite frankly, as you begged me to state my real opinion.
If you decide to remain in occupation of certain parts of Asia on this side Taurus which were formerly subject to Antiochus, I should be exceedingly gratified to see that happen.
For I think that my kingdom would be more secure with you on my frontiers, and a portion of your power falling to my share. But if you decide not to do this, but entirely to evacuate Asia, I think there is no one to whom you could cede the prizes of the war with more justice than to myself.
But surely, you will be told, it is a finer thing to set free those in servitude.
Well perhaps, if they had not ventured to fight against you with Antiochus. But since they suffered themselves to do so it is far finer to give your true friends a fitting token of your gratitude than to confer favours on those who were your enemies."
Walbank Commentary