The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08
guard. The senators whose age and health permitted them, discharged
personally the duty of sentinels. The going around[111] and attending to
these was assigned to the ædiles of the people; on them devolved the
chief administration of affairs and the majesty of the consular
authority.
[Footnote 109: Of the year,--i.e. the consular year, not the civil one,
which commenced in January.]
[Footnote 110: A similar measure was adopted at Athens. See Thucyd. ii.
52.]
[Footnote 111: _Circuitio_. Stroth observes, that this is what we
understand by 'the Round.']
7. The commonwealth thus desolate, without a head, without strength, the
guardian gods and good fortune of the city saved, which inspired the
Volscians and Æquans with the disposition of banditti rather than of
enemies; for so far was any hope not only of taking but even of
approaching the walls of Rome[112] from taking possession of their
minds, and so thoroughly did the sight of the houses in the distance,
and the adjacent hills, divert their thoughts, (from such an attempt,)
that, a murmur having arisen in every direction throughout the entire
camp, "why they should waste time in indolence without booty in a wild
and desert land, amid the putrid decay of cattle and of human beings,
when they might repair to places uninjured by infection, the Tusculan
territory abounding in wealth?" they suddenly tore up their standards,
and by journeys across the country, they passed through the Lavican
territory to the Tusculan hills; and to that quarter was the whole
violence and storm of the war directed. In the mean time the Hernicians
and Latins, influenced not only by compassion but by shame, if they
neither gave opposition to the common enemy, when making for the city
of Rome with a hostile army, nor afforded any aid to their allies when
besieged, march to Rome with their forces united. Where, when they did
not find the enemy, following their tracks as indicated by rumour, they
meet them as they are coming down from the Tusculan territory into the
Alban valley: there a battle was fought under circumstances by no means
equal; and their fidelity proved by no means favourable to the allies
for the present. The mortality at Rome by disease was not less than that
of the allies by the sword (of the enemy); the only surviving consul
dies; other eminent characters also died, Marcus Valerius, Titus
Virginius Rutilus, the augurs; Servius Sulpicius, principal curio; and
through persons of inferior note the virulence of the disease spread
extensively: and the senate, destitute of human aid, directed the
people's attention to the gods and to prayers; they were ordered to go
to supplicate with their wives and children, and earnestly to implore
the protection of heaven. Besides that their own sufferings obliged each
to do so, when called on by public authority, they fill all the shrines;
the prostrate matrons in every quarter sweeping the temples with their
hair, beg for a remission of the divine displeasure, and a termination
to the pestilence.
[Footnote 112: According to Dionysius, the Volsci attacked Rome on this
occasion.]
8. From this time, whether it was from the favour of the gods being
obtained, or that the more unhealthy season of the year was now passed,
the bodies of the people having shaken off disease, gradually began to
be more healthy, and their attention being now directed to public
concerns, when several interregna had expired, Publius Valerius
Publicola, on the third day after he had entered on his office of
interrex, causes Lucretius Tricipitinus, and Titus Veturius Geminus, (or
Velusius,) to be elected consuls. They enter on their consulship on the
third day of the Ides of August, the state being now sufficiently
strong, not only to repel a hostile attack, but even to act itself on
the offensive. Therefore when the Hernicians brought an account that the
enemy had made an incursion into their frontiers, assistance was readily
promised; two consular armies were enlisted. Veturius was sent against
the Volscians to carry on an offensive war. Tricipitinus being appointed
to protect the territory of the allies from devastation, proceeds no
further than into the country of the Hernicians. Veturius routs and puts
to flight the enemy in the first engagement. A party of plunderers
which had marched over the Prænestine mountains, and from thence
descended into the plains, escaped the notice of Lucretius, whilst he
lay encamped amongst the Hernicians. These laid waste all the country
around Præneste and Gabii: from the Gabinian territory they turn their
course towards the heights of Tusculum; great alarm was excited in the
city of Rome also, more from the suddenness of the affair, than that
there was not sufficient strength to repel violence. Quintus Fabius had
the command in the city;[113] he, by arming the young men and posting
guards, rendered things secure and tranquil. The enemy therefore
carrying off plunder from the adjacent places, not venturing to approach
the city, when they were returning by a circuitous route, their caution
being now more relaxed, in proportion as they removed to a greater
distance from the enemy's city, fall in with the consul Lucretius, who
had already explored their motions, drawn up in battle-array and
determined on an engagement. Accordingly having attacked them with
predetermined resolution whilst struck with sudden panic, though
considerably fewer in numbers, they rout and put to flight their
numerous army, and having driven them into the deep valleys, when an
egress from thence was not easy, they surround them. There the Volscian
nation was almost entirely cut off. In some histories I find that
thirteen thousand four hundred and seventy fell in the field and in the
pursuit, that one thousand two hundred and fifty were taken alive, that
twenty-seven military standards were carried off; where, though there
may have been some exaggeration in the number, there certainly was great
slaughter. The victorious consul having obtained immense booty returned
to the same standing camp. Then the consuls join their camps. The
Volscians and Æquans also unite their shattered strength. This was the
third battle on that year; the same good fortune gave them victory; the
enemy being beaten, their camp was also taken.
[Footnote 113: As _præfectus urbis_.]
9. Thus affairs at Rome returned to their former state; and successes
abroad immediately excited commotions in the city. Caius Terentillus
Arsa[114] was tribune of the people in that year: he, considering that
an opportunity was afforded for tribunitian intrigues during the absence
of the consuls, after railing against the arrogance of the patricians
for several days before the people, inveighed chiefly against the
consular authority, as being exorbitant and intolerable in a free state:
"for that, in name only, it was less invidious, in reality almost more
oppressive than that of kings. For that two masters had been adopted
instead of one, with unbounded, unlimited power; who, themselves
unrestrained and unbridled, directed all the terrors of the law, and all
kinds of severity against the commons." Now, in order that this
licentious power might not continue perpetual, he would propose a law,
that five persons be appointed to draw up laws regarding the consular
power. That the consul should use that right which the people may give
him over them; that they should not hold their own caprice and
licentiousness as law. This law being published, when the patricians
became afraid, lest, in the absence of the consuls, they should be
subjected to the yoke, the senate is convened by Quintus Fabius, præfect
of the city, who inveighed so vehemently against the bill and the author
of it, that nothing was omitted of threats and intimidation, even though
both the consuls in all their exasperation surrounded the tribune, "that
he had lain in wait, and, watching his opportunity, he made an attack on
the commonwealth. If the gods in their anger had given them any tribune
like him on the preceding year, during the pestilence and war, he could
not have been withstood. Both the consuls being dead, and the exhausted
state lying enfeebled in universal confusion, that he would have
proposed laws to abolish the consular government altogether from the
state; that he would have headed the Volscians and Æquans to attack the
city. What? if the consuls adopted any tyrannical or cruel proceedings
against any of the citizens, was it not competent to him to appoint a
day of trial for him; to arraign him before those very judges against
any one of whom severity may have been exercised? That it was not the
consular authority but the tribunitian power that he was rendering
hateful and insupportable: which having been peaceable and reconciled to
the patricians, was now about to be brought back anew to its former
mischievous habits. Nor would he entreat him not to go on as he
commenced. Of you, the other tribunes, says Fabius, we request, that
you will first of all consider that that power was provided for the aid
of individuals, not for the ruin of the community: that you were created
tribunes of the commons, not enemies of the patricians. To us it is
distressing, to you a source of odium, that the republic, now bereft of
its chief magistrates, should be attacked; you will diminish not your
rights, but the odium against you. Confer with your colleague, that he
may postpone this business till the arrival of the consuls; even the
Æquans and the Volscians, when our consuls were carried off by
pestilence last year, did not press on us with a cruel and tyrannical
war." The tribunes confer with Terentillus, and the bill being to all
appearance deferred, but in reality abandoned, the consuls were
immediately sent for.
[Footnote 114: Niebuhr n. 24, 634, would have us read _Terentilius_, the
Roman family names always, he says, ending in _ius_. He also thinks that
for _Arsa_, we should read _Harsa_.]
10. Lucretius returned with immense spoil, and much greater glory; and
this glory he increased on his arrival, by exposing all the booty in the
Campus Martius, so that each person might, during three days, recognise
his own and carry it away; the remainder was sold, for which no owners
appeared. A triumph was by universal consent due to the consul: but the
matter was deferred, the tribune still pressing his law; this to the
consul seemed of greater importance. The business was discussed for
several days, both in the senate and before the people: at length the
tribune yielded to the majesty of the consul, and desisted; then the due
honour was rendered to the general and his army. He triumphed over the
Volscians and Æquans: his troops followed him in his triumph. The other
consul was allowed to enter the city in ovation without his soldiers. On
the following year the Terentillian law having been taken up by the
entire college, assailed the new consuls; the consuls were Publius
Volumnius and Servius Sulpicius. On that year the sky seemed to be on
fire; a violent earthquake also occurred; it was now believed that an ox
spoke, which circumstance had not obtained credit on the year before;
among other prodigies it rained flesh also;[115] which shower a great
number of birds is reported to have carried off by flying so as to
intercept it; that which did fall, is said to have lain scattered about
for several days, so that its smell evinced no change. The books[116]
were consulted by the duumviri for sacred rites: dangers of attacks
being made on the highest parts of the city, and of bloodshed thence
resulting, were predicted as about to come from an assemblage of
strangers; among other things, an admonition was given that all
intestine disturbances should be abandoned. The tribunes alleged that