or in their
rear.]

32. Fear then seized the senators lest, if the army should be dismissed,
secret meetings and conspiracies would be renewed; wherefore though the
levy had been held by the dictator, yet supposing that, as they had
sworn obedience to the consuls, the soldiers were bound by their oath,
under the pretext of hostilities being renewed by the AEqui, they ordered
the legions to be led out of the city; by which proceeding the sedition
was hastened. And it is said that at first it was in contemplation to
put the consuls to death, that they might be discharged from their oath:
but that being afterwards informed that no religious obligation could be
dissolved by a criminal act, they, by the advice of one Sicinius,
retired, without the orders of the consuls, to the sacred mount, beyond
the river Anio, three miles from the city: this account is more general
than that which Piso has given, that the secession was made to the
Aventine. There without any leader, their camp being fortified with a
rampart and trench, remaining quiet, taking nothing but what was
necessary for sustenance, they kept themselves for several days, neither
being attacked, nor attacking others. Great was the panic in the city,
and through mutual fear all was suspense. The people left in the city
dreaded the violence of the senators; the senators dreaded the people
remaining in the city, uncertain whether they should prefer them to stay
or to depart; but how long would the multitude which had seceded, remain
quiet? what were to be the consequences then, if, in the mean time, any
foreign war should break out? they certainly considered no hope left,
save in the concord of the citizens; this should be restored to the
state by fair or by unfair means. It was resolved therefore that there
should be sent as ambassador to the people, Menenius Agrippa, an
eloquent man, and one who was a favourite with the people, because he
derived his origin from them. He being admitted into the camp, is said
to have related to them merely the following story in that antiquated
and uncouth style; "At a time when all the parts in the human body did
not, as now, agree together, but the several members had each its own
scheme, its own language, the other parts, indignant that every thing
was procured for the belly by their care, labour, and service; that the
belly, remaining quiet in the centre, did nothing but enjoy the
pleasures afforded it. They conspired accordingly,