t only against them as a body, but also against
particular individuals. Q. Considius and T. Genucius, the proposers of
the agrarian law, appoint a day of trial for T. Menenius: the loss of
the fort of Cremera, whilst the consul had his standing camp at no great
distance from thence, was the charge against him. They crushed him,
though both the senators had exerted themselves in his behalf with no
less earnestness than in behalf of Coriolanus, and the popularity of his
father Agrippa was not yet forgotten. The tribunes, however, went no
further than a fine: though they had arraigned him for a capital
offence, they imposed on him, when found guilty, a fine of two thousand
_asses_. This proved fatal. They say that he could not submit to the
disgrace, and to the anguish of mind (occasioned by it): that, in
consequence, he was taken off by disease. Another senator, Sp.
Servilius, being soon after arraigned, as soon as he went out of office,
a day of trial having been appointed for him by the tribunes, L.
Caedicius and T. Statius, at the very commencement of the year, in the
consulship of C. Nautius and P. Valerius, did not, like Menenius, meet
the attacks of the tribunes with supplications from himself and the
patricians, but with firm reliance on his own integrity, and his
personal influence. The battle with the Etrurians at the Janiculum was
the charge against him also: but being a man of an intrepid spirit, as
he had formerly acted in the case of public peril, so now in that which
was personal to himself, he dispelled the danger by boldly facing it, by
confuting not only the tribunes but the commons also, by a bold speech,
and upbraiding them with the condemnation and death of T. Menenius, by
the good offices of whose father the commons were formerly
re-established, and were now in possession of those laws and those
magistrates, by means of which they then exercised their insolence; his
colleague Virginius also, who was brought forward as a witness, aided
him by assigning to him a share of his own deserts; the condemnation of
Menenius however was of greater service to him (so much had they changed
their minds).

53. The contests at home were now concluded. A Veientian war broke out,
with whom the Sabines had united their forces. The consul P. Valerius,
after auxiliaries were sent for from the Latins and Hernicians, being
despatched to Veii with an army, immediately attacks the Sabine camp,
which had been pitched before th