, by a letter from the consul, Lucius
Volumnius informing them that the army, which had ravaged Campania,
had been defeated and dispersed whereupon, they decreed a public
thanksgiving for this success, in the name of the consul. The courts
were opened, after having been shut eighteen days, and the
thanksgiving was performed with much joy. They then turned their
thoughts to devising measures for the future security of the country
depopulated by the Samnites, and, with this view, it was resolved,
that two colonies should be settled on the frontiers of the Vescian
and Falernian territories, one at the mouth of the river Liris, which
has received the name of Minturnae, the other in the Vescian forest,
which borders on the Falernian territory, where, it is said, stood
Sinope, a city of Grecians, called thenceforth by the Roman colonists
Sinuessa. The plebeian tribunes were charged to procure an order of
the commons, commanding Publius Sempronius, the praetor, to create
triumphs for conducting the colonies to those places. But persons were
not readily found to give in their names, because they considered that
they were being sent into what was almost a perpetual advanced guard
in a hostile country, not as a provision from concord between consuls,
and the evils arising from their disagreement in the conduct of
military affairs; at the same time remarking, "how near the extremity
of danger matters had been brought, by the late dispute between his
colleague and himself." He warmly recommended to Decius and Fabius to
"live together with one mind and one spirit." Observed that "they were
men qualified by nature for military command: great in action, but
unpractised in the strife of words and eloquence; their talents were
such as eminently became consuls. As to the artful and the ingenious
lawyers and orators, such as Appius Claudius, they ought to be kept at
home to preside in the city and the forum; and to be appointed
praetors for the administration of justice." In these proceedings that
day was spent, and, on the following, the elections both of consuls
and praetor were held, and were guided by the recommendations
suggested by the consul. Quintus Fabius and Publius Decius were chosen
consuls; Appius Claudius, praetor; all of them absent; and, by a
decree of the senate, followed by an order of the commons, Lucius
Volumnius was continued in the command for another year.

23. During that year many prodigies happened. For the purpo