Curiosities & wonders > Titus Livius' Roman history

508
TITUS LIVIUS’
Book III.
' still fresh in his memory. That the territory in ques- ,
‘ lion was a pertioent of Corioli, which being subjectjM ,
‘ to the Romans, the land of course became the property ,
' of the Roman people. That it surprised him, how in
' all the world, the Arcini and Ardeates, who bad never1 ,
* claimed this territory while Corioli existed as a state, !
‘ could expect to ascertain their claim to it, by making ,
4 the Romans, who had the legal right, arbitrators in the I,
4 case. That for his own part he had not long to live, I,
4 and since he could do no more now', when he was old, he 1,
4 could not help claiming possession by his feeble voice, 11
4 of a property, to the acquisition of which, he had con- L
4 tributed all in his power when young. And that it
4 was his earnest advice to the people, that they should
'• not, by a mistaken and foolish modesty, pass judgment
"• against themselves.’
CHAP. LXXII.
The People adjudge in their own favour.
ThR consuls finding that the multitude listened to
Scaptius, with every mark of attention and satisfaction,
called gods and men to witness their dissent from the no¬
torious injustice just about to be committed, and calling
the chief men of the stale, with them w ent about implor- j
ing the tribunes, 4 To use their best endeavours to dis-
4 suade the people from introducing the practice among j
4 arbitrators, of adjudging to themselves a subject sub- i
4 mined io their decision, which is not only infamous
4 in itself, but of the most pernicious tendency; for, j
4 suppose, in this case, their claim was well found- |
< ed, and for that reason, a concern for their own inte-
‘ rest became justifiable; yet it would be highly impo- 1
* btical: for the acquisition of this territory would be
* but a poor compensation for the imputation ofinjus- '
* tice, and the loss of the friendship of their allies. .
? Moreover, in point of character and credit, the loss j
* was irreparable. Shall the deputies of the stales carry j
* home the news? shall it be told to the allies, and the
* enemies of Rome? The first will be sorry;—the last
< will rejoice. Is it possible to imagine, that the neigh- j