ind that Kaeso should be condemned.
Then, indeed, the young man and his kinsfolk and friends turned to
supplications and prayers. Titus Quinctius, that had been three times
consul, affirmed, "Never in the home of Quinctius, never verily in this
city of Rome, has there been a soldier of so ripe a courage. When I was
captain of the host, he was ever the first; with these eyes have I seen
him fighting against the enemy." Also Lucretius, that had been consul
the year before, winning great glory from the Volscians and AEquians,
testified that Kaeso had helped him to conquer as none other had done;
and one Furius that he had delivered him and his army from great
peril of defeat As for Lucius Quinctius, his father, whose surname was
Cincinnatus, he sought not to magnify the valour and brave deeds of his
son, lest haply he should so stir up the more jealousy against him,
but sought to make excuse for him, as one who had erred for want of
discretion, beseeching men that, if he himself had wronged no man by
word or deed, so they would grant him for a favour the pardon of his
son. But nothing availed with the people, some fearing the wrath of
their fellows if they should give ear to such words, and some making
complaint that they had suffered violence from the hands of Kaeso, and
affirming that they would be avenged of him for his misdeeds. Now of
all things that were alleged against him the most grievous was the
accusation brought by a certain Volscius that had once been tribune of
the Commons; for Volscius bare this witness against him: "Not many days
after the plague had ceased from the city, I, with others in my company,
fell in with certain young men, of whom this Kaeso was one, disporting
themselves in the street. These fell out with us, and Kaeso smote my
elder brother with the fist, so that he fell fainting to the ground,
being then not wholly recovered from the plague. And being carried home,
he died by noon, as I doubt not, of this blow. But when I would have
brought Kaeso to judgment for this offence, the Consuls would not suffer
it." At the hearing of this tale the wrath of the Commons waxed so hot
that they could scarcely be kept from falling on Kaeso and slaying him.
At the last, after much debate between the nobles and the tribunes, it
was agreed that the young man should appear the next day to make his
answer to these accusations, giving sureties in the meanwhile lest he
should fail to do so. Ten sureties he gave, an