did he oppose the law, harass the commons, and persecute the tribunes, as if in a regular war.  The accuser suffered the accused to rush headlong to his ruin, and to fan the flame of odium and supply material for the charges he intended to bring against him:  in the meantime he proceeded with the law, not so much in the hope of carrying it through, as with the object of provoking rash action on the part of Caeso.  After that many inconsiderate expressions and actions of the younger patricians were put down to the temper of Caeso alone, owing to the suspicion with which he was regarded:  still the law was resisted.  Also Aulus Verginius frequently remarked to the people:  “Are you now sensible, Quirites that you can not at the same time have Caeso as a fellow-citizen, and the law which you desire?  Though why do I speak of the law?  He is a hindrance to your liberty; he surpasses all the Tarquins in arrogance.  Wait till that man is made consul or dictator, whom, though but a private citizen, you now see exercising kingly power by his strength and audacity.”  Many agreed, complaining that they had been beaten by him:  and, moreover, urged the tribune to go through with the prosecution.

The day of trial was now at hand, and it was evident that people in general considered that their liberty depended on the condemnation of Caeso:  then, at length being forced to do so, he solicited the commons individually, though with a strong feeling of indignation; his relatives and the principal men of the state attended him.  Titus Quinctius Capitolinus, who had been thrice consul, recounting many splendid achievements of his own, and of his family, declared that neither in the Quinctian family, nor in the Roman state, had there ever appeared such a promising genius displaying such early valour.  That he himself was the first under whom he had served, that he had often in his sight fought against the enemy.  Spurius Furius declared that Caeso, having been sent to him by Quinctius Capitolinus, had come to his aid when in the midst of danger; that there was no single individual by whose exertions he considered the common weal had been more effectually re-established.  Lucius Lucretius, the consul of the preceding year, in the full splendour of recent glory, shared his own meritorious services with Caeso; he recounted his battles detailed his distinguished exploits, both in expeditions and in pitched battle; he recommended and advised them to choose rather that a youth so distinguished, endowed with all the advantages of nature and fortune, and one who should prove the greatest support of whatsoever state he should visit, should continue to be a fellow-citizen of their own, rather than become the citizen of a foreign state:  that with respect to those qualities which gave offence in him, hot-headedness and overboldness, they were such as increasing years removed more and more every day:  that what was lacking, prudence, increased day by day:  that as his faults declined,