s however I find that Titus Lartius
was appointed the first dictator, and Spurius Cassius master of the
horse. They chose men of consular dignity, for so the law, made for the
election of a dictator, ordained. For this reason, I am more inclined to
believe that Lartius, who was of consular rank, was annexed to the
consuls as their director and master, rather than Manius Valerius, the
son of Marcus and grandson of Volesus, who had not yet been consul. For,
had they intended to choose a dictator from that family in particular,
they would much rather have chosen his father, Marcus Valerius, a
consular person, and a man of distinguished merit. On the creation of
the dictator first at Rome, when they saw the axes carried before him,
great awe struck the common people, so that they became more submissive
to obey orders. For neither was there now, as under the consuls who
possessed equal power, the assistance of one of the two, nor was there
appeal, nor was there any resource any where but in attentive
submission. The creation of a dictator at Rome terrified the Sabines,
and the more effectually, because they thought he was created on their
account.[81] Wherefore they sent ambassadors to sue for peace, to whom,
when earnestly entreating the dictator and senate to pardon the young
men's offence, an answer was given that the young men could easily be
forgiven, but not the old men, who continually raised one war after
another. Nevertheless they continued to treat about a peace, and it
would have been granted, if the Sabines would bring themselves to make
good the expenses incurred on the war (for that was demanded). War was
proclaimed; a tacit truce kept the year quiet.

[Footnote 80: _Nec quibus consulibus parum creditum sit_, scil. fides
non habita fuerit. Arnold in his Roman Hist. considers this to have been
the true cause of creating a dictator.]

[Footnote 81: _Eo magis quod propter se._ From this one would be
disposed to suspect that the dictator was created to take on him the
management of war. See Nieb. p. 553, and Niebhr. Epit. by Twiss, Append.
p. 355.]

19. Servius Sulpicius and M. Tullius were consuls the next year: nothing
worth mentioning happened. Then T. AEbutius and C. Vetusius. In their
consulship, Fidenae was besieged, Crustumeria taken, and Praeneste
revolted from the Latins to the Romans. Nor was the Latin war, which had
been fomenting for several years, any longer deferred. A. Postumius
dictator, and T. A