These delegates, then, returned home to discuss the matter,
and Echedemus meeting the Apocleti also talked it over.
One of the alternative conditions was impossible owing to the magnitude of the sum demanded, and the other frightened them owing to what had taken place on the occasion of their former mistake, when after having assented to absolute submission they came very near being placed in chains.
Consequently, in their difficulty and distress, they sent off the same envoys again to beg either that the sum might be reduced so that they would be able to pay it, or that their politicians and their women should be excluded from the total submission.
Meeting Publius and his brother they communicated the decree of the Aetolians on the subject,
but when Lucius said that he was only empowered by the senate to propose the conditions he had stated,
they again returned to Aetolia, and Echedemus following them to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hypata&groupId=637&placeId=1169">Hypata</a>, advised the Aetolians, since there was this obstacle at present to the conclusion of peace, to ask for an armistice and gaining thus a temporary relief from present ills, to send an embassy to the senate, when if they were successful in obtaining their request well and good,
but if not they might watch for a change of circumstances.
For it was impossible for their situation to be worse than it actually was, but there were many reasons why it might improve.
Echedemus's advice seemed to them to be good, and it was decided to send envoys asking for a truce.
So coming to Lucius they begged him to grant them for the present a truce for six months, in order to send an embassy to the Senate.
Publius, who had for long been eager to play a part in Asiatic affairs, soon persuaded his brother to accede to the request.
Upon the signature of the agreement, Glabrio, after raising the siege and handing over his whole army and his stores to Lucius, at once left for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> with his military tribunes.
Walbank Commentary