tood round him in a ring, to prevent his being seized, the consuls sent
a lictor to him. He being repulsed, such of the fathers as attended the
consuls, exclaiming against it as an intolerable insult, ran in a hurry
from the tribunal to assist the lictor. But when the violence was turned
from the lictor, who suffered nothing else but being prevented from
seizing him, against the fathers, the riot was quelled by the
interposition of the consuls, in which however, without stones or
weapons, there was more noise and angry words than mischief done. The
senate, called in a tumultuous manner, is consulted in a manner still
more tumultuous; such as had been beaten, calling out for an inquiry,
and the most violent members declaring their sentiments no less by
clamours and noise than by their votes. At length, when their passion
had subsided, the consuls reproaching them with there being as much
disorderly conduct in the senate as in the forum, the house began to
vote in regular order. There were three different opinions: P. Virginius
did not make the [85]matter general. He voted that they should consider
only those who, relying on the promise of P. Servilius the consul, had
served in a war against the Auruncans and Sabines. Titius Largius was of
opinion, "That it was not now a proper time to reward services only.
That all the people were immersed in debt, and that a stop could not be
put to the evil, unless measures were adopted for all. And that if the
condition of different parties be different, the divisions would rather
be thereby inflamed than composed." Appius Claudius, who was naturally
severe, and, by the hatred of the commons on the one hand, and praises
of the senators on the other, was become quite infuriated, said, "That
these riots proceeded not from distress, but from licentiousness. That
the people were rather wanton than violent. That this terrible mischief
took its rise from the right of appeal; since threats, not authority,
was all that belonged to the consuls, while permission was given to
appeal to those who were accomplices in the crime. Come," added he, "let
us create a dictator from whom there lies no appeal; this madness, which
hath set every thing in a flame, will immediately subside. Let any one
dare then to strike a lictor, when he shall know that his back, and even
his life, are in the power of that person whose authority he has
insulted."

[Footnote 84: The determination of the plebeians and senators