high repute in those days), to learn what manner of laws and customs
they had, and to bring back a report of them. And when the ambassadors
had brought back their report, it seemed good to the people that in the
following year there should be appointed neither consuls nor any other
magistrate, but decemvirs only; that is to say, ten men, who should set
in order the laws of Rome. Thus it came to pass in the ninety and first
year from the driving out of the kings, that decemvirs were appointed in
the stead of consuls, Appius Claudius being the chief of the ten.

For a while these pleased the people well, doing justice equally
between man and man. And the custom was that each day one of the ten sat
as judge with the twelve lictors about him, the nine others sitting with
one minister only. Also they busied themselves with the ordering of the
laws; and at last set forth ten tables on which these were written. At
the same time they called the people together to an assembly, and spake
to them thus: "The Gods grant that this undertaking may turn to the
credit of the State, and of you, and of your children. Go, therefore,
and read these laws which we have set forth; for though we have done
what ten men could do to provide laws that should be just to all,
whether they be high or low, yet the understandings of many men may yet
change many things for the better. Consider therefore all these matters
in your own minds, and debate them among yourselves. For we will that
the Roman people should be bound by such laws only as they shall have
agreed together to establish."

The ten tables were therefore set forth, and when these had been
sufficiently considered, and such corrections made therein as seemed
good, a regular assembly of the people was called, and the laws were
duly established. But now there was spread abroad a report that two
tables were yet wanting, and that when these should have been added the
whole would be complete; and thence there arose a desire that the Ten
should be appointed to hold office a second year. This indeed was done;
but Appius Claudius so ordered matters that there were elected together
with him none of the chief men of the State, but only such as were of an
inferior condition and fortune.

After this the Ten began more and more to set aside all law and right.
Thus whereas at the first one only on each day was followed by the
twelve lictors, each of the ten came daily into the market-place so
attended;