Roman History, Books I-III eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 369 pages of information about Roman History, Books I-III.

Roman History, Books I-III eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 369 pages of information about Roman History, Books I-III.
from anxiety, whether legal magistrates were at the head of affairs, they now at length sowed the seeds of civil discord, when the enemy were nearly at the gates, except it were that in a state of confusion they thought that their object would be less clearly seen through.  For the rest, it was unfair that any one should prejudge a matter of such importance, while their minds were occupied with a more momentous concern.  It was his opinion that, in regard to what Valerius and Horatius alleged—­that the decemvirs had gone out of office before the ides of May—­the matter should be discussed in the senate and left to them to decide, when the wars which were now impending were over, and the commonwealth restored to tranquility, and that Appius Claudius was even now preparing to take notice that an account had to be rendered by him of the election which he himself as decemvir held for electing decemvirs, whether they were elected for one year, or until the laws, which were wanting, were ratified.  It was his opinion that all other matters should be disregarded for the present, except the war; and if they thought that the reports regarding it were propagated without foundation, and that not only the messengers but also the ambassadors of the Tusculans had stated what was false, he thought that scouts should be dispatched to bring back more certain information; but if credit were given both to the messengers and the ambassadors, that the levy should be held at the very earliest opportunity; that the decemvirs should lead the armies, whither each thought proper:  and that no other matter should take precedence.

The junior patricians almost succeeded in getting this resolution passed on a division.  Accordingly, Valerius and Horatius, rising again with greater vehemence, loudly demanded that it should be allowed them to express their sentiments concerning the republic; that they would address a meeting of the people, if owing to party efforts they were not allowed to do so in the senate:  for that private individuals, whether in the senate or in a general assembly, could not prevent them:  nor would they yield to their imaginary fasces.  Appius, now considering that the crisis was already nigh at hand, when their authority would be overpowered, unless the violence of these were resisted with equal boldness, said, “It will be better for you not to utter a word on any subject, except the subject of discussion”; and against Valerius, when he refused to be silent for a private individual, he commanded a lictor to proceed.  When Valerius, from the threshold of the senate-house, now craved the protection of the citizens, Lucius Cornelius, embracing Appius, put an end to the struggle, not in reality consulting the interest of him whose interest he pretended to consult;[50] and after permission to say what he pleased had been obtained for Valerius by means of Cornelius, when this liberty did not extend beyond words, the decemvirs attained their object. 

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Roman History, Books I-III from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.