Curiosities & wonders > Titus Livius' Roman history

146
TITUS LIVIUS*
Book II.
“ dier, unless they performed the promise that had been
" made them ;—that before they put arms in their hands,
“ it was highly proper they should restore them their li-
" berty, that they might know whether they were to
** light for their country and fellow citizens, or for des-
“ potic tyrants.'’
The consuls knew well the extent of their commission
from the senate ; but of all those bold declaimers, who
had talked so high within the walls of the senate-house,
not one appeared to share with them in thepublic odium.
Besides, it appeared, that this contest with the people
would be a serious affair. Therefore, before they should
come to extremities, they judged it expedient to talk
over the matter with the senate a second time, which
they did accordingly. The young senators then crowd¬
ed round the consuls chairs, ordering them to abdicate
the consulship, and resign an authority they wanted
spirit to support.
CHAP. XXIX.
The Consular authority slighted. Various plans proposed.
The consuls having sufficiently tried botjt experi¬
ments, made this short reply: “ Conscript fathers, re-
« member, we tell you, that a terrible sedition is on the
“ point of breaking out, and we insist that they who
“ brand us with pusillanimity, may only assist us in
“ making the levies. Since you advise violent measuresi
“ we shall act with all the spirit the keenest of you
“ would desire.” With these words, they returned to
their tribunal, and called upon one of the most factious,
whom they had in their view, to come and be inrolled.
As the man stood still, without returning an answer, and
a crowd got about him, to protect him, in case of need,
the consuls sent a lictor to seize him. The lictor being
repulsed, such of the senators as were present with the
consuls, exclaiming against the indignity, came down
from the tribunal to support the lictor. But the moh,
who had only prevented the officer from seizing the man,
now turned upon the senators. The consuls interposed,
and the tumult was appeased. Neither stones nor darts