ny prominent share either of glory or ill-will; the people complained
that for one Caeso a thousand had started up. During the intermediate
days, when the tribunes made no stir regarding the law, nothing could be
more mild or peaceable than those same persons; they saluted the
plebeians courteously, entered into conversation, and invited them home;
they attended the forum, and suffered the tribunes themselves to hold
their meetings without interruption: they never were uncivil to any one
either in public or in private, unless when the business respecting the
law began to be agitated. On other occasions the young men were popular.
And not only did the tribunes transact all their other affairs without
disturbance, but they were even re-elected for the following year,
without one offensive expression, much less any violence being employed.
By soothing and managing the commons they gradually rendered them
tractable. By these methods the law was evaded for the entire year.

15. The consuls Caius Claudius, the son of Appius, and Publius Valerius
Publicola, found the state in a more tranquil condition. The new year
had brought with it nothing new; the thoughts about carrying the law, or
submitting to it, engrossed all the members of the state. The more the
younger members of the senate endeavoured to insinuate themselves into
favour with the commons, the more strenuously did the tribunes strive to
thwart them, so that they rendered them suspicious in the eyes of the
commons by alleging: "that a conspiracy was formed; that Caeso was in
Rome; that plans were concerted for assassinating the tribunes, and
butchering the commons. That the commission assigned by the elder
members of the patricians was, that the young men should abolish the
tribunitian power from the state, and the form of government should be
the same as it had been before the sacred mount had been taken
possession of." Both a war from the Volsci and AEqui, which was now a
stated thing, and one that was a regular occurrence for almost every
year, was apprehended, and another evil nearer home started up
unexpectedly. The exiles and slaves to the number of four thousand and
five hundred men took possession of the Capitol and citadel during the
night, under the command of Appius Herdonius, a Sabine. Immediately a
massacre took place in the citadel of those who had evinced an
unwillingness to enter into the conspiracy and to take up arms. Some,
during the alarm, run down