hat the axe should be taken away, as they had been
appointed without the privilege of appeal.[137] There was the appearance
of ten kings, and terrors were multiplied not only in the humblest
individuals, but even in the principal men among the patricians, who
thought that a pretext and commencement of bloodshed were sought for; so
that if any one should utter a word favourable to liberty, either in the
senate or in a meeting of the people, the rods and axes would be
instantly brought forward, even to intimidate the rest. For besides that
there was no protection in the people, the right of appeal being done
away with, they had also by mutual consent prohibited interference with
each other:[138] whereas the preceding decemvirs had allowed the points
of law decided by themselves to be amended by appeal to a colleague, and
had referred to the people some points which might seem to come within
their own jurisdiction. For a considerable time the terror seemed
equalized among all ranks; gradually it began to turn entirely on the
commons. They spared the patricians; arbitrary and cruel treatment was
shown to the humbler classes: they were wholly respective of the person,
not of the cause: as being persons with whom interest usurped the force
of justice. Their decisions they concerted at home, and pronounced in
the forum. If any person appealed to a colleague, he left the one to
whom he had appealed in such a manner as to regret that he had not
abided by the sentence of the former. An opinion also had gone abroad
without an authority, that they had conspired in their tyranny not only
for the present time, but that a clandestine league had been struck
among them (accompanied) with an oath, that they would not hold the
comitia, and that by perpetuating the decemvirate they would retain the
power now in their possession.

[Footnote 136: _Impotentibus_, sc. immoderatis--_rari aditus_, the
genitive singular.--_Stroth._]

[Footnote 137: _Nec attinuisse demi securim, quum sine provocatione
creati essent, interpretabantur_. Valerius Publicola had introduced the
custom of not having the axes tied up with the fasces when carried
before the consuls in the city. But the decemvirs said that this was,
because an appeal from the consuls to the people was allowed. Whence,
since their jurisdiction allowed of no appeal, they _interpreted_, i. e.
by interpreting the meaning or intention of this custom, they concluded
that they were not bound by i