of time—­one, however, deeply fixed in his memory, namely, that the district now in dispute had belonged to the territory of Corioli, and, after the taking of Corioli, it had become come by right of war the public property of the Roman people.  That he was surprised how the states of Ardea and Aricia could have the face to hope to deprive the Roman people, whom instead of lawful owners they had made arbitrators; of a district the right of which they had never claimed while the state of Corioli existed.  That he for his part had but a short time to live; he could not, however, bring himself, old as he now was, to desist claiming by his voice, the only means he now had, a district which, as a soldier, he had contributed to acquire, as far as a man could.  That he strenuously advised the people not to ruin their own interest by an idle feeling of delicacy.

The consuls, when they perceived that Scaptius was listened to not only in silence, but even with approbation, calling gods and men to witness, that a disgraceful enormity was being committed, summoned the principal senators:  with them they went round to the tribes, entreated, that, as judges, they would not be guilty of a most heinous crime, with a still worse precedent, by converting the subject of dispute to their own interest, more especially when, even though it may be lawful for a judge to look after his own interest, so much would by no means be acquired by keeping the land, as would be lost by alienating the affections of their allies by injustice; for that the loss of reputation and confidence was of greater importance than could be estimated.  Was this the answer the ambassadors were to carry home; was this to go out to the world; were their allies to hear this; were their enemies to hear it—­with what sorrow the one—­with what joy the other?  Could they suppose that the neighbouring states would ascribe this proceeding to Scaptius, an old babbler at assemblies?  That Scaptius would be rendered distinguished by this statue:  but that the Roman people would assume the character of a corrupt informer [73] and appropriator of the claims of others.  For what judge in a private cause ever acted in such a way as to adjudge to himself the property in dispute?  That even Scaptius himself would not act so, though he had now outlived all sense of shame.  Thus the consuls, thus the senators exclaimed; but covetousness, and Scaptius, the adviser of that covetousness, had more influence.  The tribes, when convened, decided that the district was the public property of the Roman people.  Nor can it be denied that it might have been so, if they had gone to other judges; but, as it is, the infamy of the decision is not in any way diminished by the justice of the cause:  nor did it appear more disgraceful or more repulsive to the people of Aricia and of Ardea, than it did to the Roman senate.  The remainder of the year continued free from disturbances both at home and abroad. [74]

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