that the hands should
not convey food to the mouth, nor the mouth receive it when presented,
nor the teeth chew it: whilst they wished under the influence of this
feeling to subdue the belly by famine, the members themselves and the
entire body were reduced to the last degree of emaciation. Thence it
became apparent that the service of the belly was by no means a slothful
one; that it did not so much receive nourishment as supply it, sending
to all parts of the body this blood by which we live and possess
vigour, distributed equally to the veins when perfected by the digestion
of the food." By comparing in this way how similar the intestine
sedition of the body was to the resentment of the people against the
senators, he made an impression on the minds of the multitude.

33. Then a commencement was made to treat of a reconciliation, and among
the conditions it was allowed, "that the commons should have their own
magistrates, with inviolable privileges, who should have the power of
bringing assistance against the consuls, and that it should not be
lawful for any of the patricians to hold that office." Thus two tribunes
of the commons were created, Caius Licinius and L. Albinus. These
created three colleagues for themselves. It is clear that among these
was Sicinius, the adviser of the sedition; with respect to two, who they
were is not so clear. There are some who say, that only two tribunes
were elected on the sacred mount, and that there the devoting law was
passed. During the secession of the commons, Sp. Cassius and Postumus
Cominius entered on the consulship. During their consulate, the treaty
with the Latin states was concluded. To ratify this, one of the consuls
remained at Rome; the other being sent to the Volscian war, routs and
puts to flight the Volscians of Antium, and continuing his pursuit of
them, now that they were driven into the town of Longula, he takes
possession of the town. Next he took Polusca, also belonging to the
Volscians; then he attacked Corioli with all his force. There was then
in the camp, among the young noblemen, C. Marcius, a youth distinguished
both for intelligence and courage, who afterwards attained the cognomen
of Coriolanus. When, as the Roman army was besieging Corioli, and was
wholly intent on the townspeople, whom they kept shut up, without any
apprehension of war threatening from without, the Volscian legion,
setting out from Antium, suddenly attacked them, and, at the same tim