is enemies and detractors was Marcus Manlius, he who had been the
first man to fling the Gauls down the cliff in the night attack on the
Capitol, and who in remembrance of this was surnamed Capitolinus. This
man, endeavouring to make himself the first man in Rome, and not being
able to surpass the fame of Camillus by fair means, made the accusation
against him usual in such cases, that he was intending to make himself
king. This falsehood he repeated in his addresses to the people, with
whom he was making himself popular, especially with those who were in
debt; some of whom he defended, and assisted in coming to terms with
their creditors, while others he forcibly rescued from the officers of
the law, so that many needy persons were attracted to him, and became
the terror of all respectable citizens by their riotous disturbances in
the Forum. To put an end to these disorders, Quintus Capitolinus was
created dictator, and he put Manlius in prison; but the people upon this
went into mourning, a thing only done on the occasion of some great
public disaster, and the Senate, terrified at this, ordered Manlius to
be acquitted. Manlius was not improved by his captivity, but was more
turbulent and disorderly in his conduct than he had been before.
Camillus was now again elected military tribune, and Manlius was
impeached: but the place in which he was tried told greatly against his
accusers. For the very spot on the Capitol on which Manlius fought with
the Gauls on that night was visible from the Forum, and the sight of it
raised a strong feeling in his favour; while he himself pointed to it,
and, with tears in his eyes, reminded them of how he had fought for
them, so that his judges were at their wits' end, and often adjourned
the trial, for they could not acquit him of a crime which was clearly
proved against him, and yet they could not bring themselves to let the
law take its course, when the scene before them reminded them constantly
of his great exploit. Camillus, perceiving this, removed the court to
the Petelian Grove outside the city gates, where, as the Capitol was not
visible, the prosecutor was able to press home his charges against
Manlius, while the judges were not prevented from punishing him for his
recent crimes by their remembrance of what he had done in former times.
He was convicted, led to the Capitol, and thrown down the cliff, which
thus witnessed both the most glorious deed of his life, and his
miserable en