the fathers, at
the consuls throwing on the senate the odium of that which should have
been put down by consular authority. "That if there really were
magistrates in the republic, there would have been no council in Rome
but the public one. That the republic was now divided and split into a
thousand senate-houses and assemblies, some of which were held on the
Esquiline, others on the Aventine hill. That one man, in truth such as
Appius Claudius, for that that was more than a consul, would in a moment
disperse these private meetings." When the consuls, thus rebuked, asked
them, "What they desired them to do, for that they would act with as
much energy and vigour as the senators wished," they resolve that they
should push on the levies as briskly as possible, that the people were
become insolent from want of employment. When the house broke up, the
consuls ascend the tribunal and summon the young men by name. But none
of them made any answer, and the people crowding round them, as if in a
general assembly, said, "That the people would no longer be imposed on.
They should never list one soldier till the public faith was made good.
That liberty should be restored to each before arms were given, that
they might fight for their country and fellow citizens, and not for
arbitrary lords." The consuls fully understood the orders they had
received from the senate, but they saw none of those who had talked so
big within the walls of the senate-house present themselves to take any
share with them in the public odium. A desperate contest with the
commons seemed at hand. Therefore, before they would have recourse to
extremities, they thought it advisable to consult the senate a second
time. Then indeed the younger senators flocked in a hurry round the
chairs of the consuls, commanding them to abdicate the consulate, and
resign an office which they had not courage to support.

29. Having sufficiently tried both[84] ways, the consuls at length said,
"Conscript fathers, lest you may say that you were not forewarned, a
great disturbance is at hand. We require that they who accuse us most
severely of cowardice, would assist us in raising the levies; we shall
proceed according to the resolution of the most intrepid amongst you,
since it so pleases you." They return to their tribunal, and on purpose
commanded one of the most factious of the people, who stood in their
view, to be called upon by name. When he stood mute, and a number of men
s