Curiosities & wonders > Titus Livius' Roman history

Chap. 2.
ROMAN HISTORY.
313
‘ reasonable than the former, they would, at the begin-
‘ ning, have fought it fairly, whoever their disadvan-
* tages, rather'than have such laws wreathed about their
‘ necks. Because they had been indulged at first in tri-
‘ bunes, they must be again indulged. To see an end
‘ of their dissensions, was impossible, so long as senators
* and tribunes existed in the same state. Either the Pa-
* trician order, or these demagogues, must be kicked
‘ out of the community. It is better late than never at
‘ all, to stem the torrent of their insolence and temerity.
‘ Shall they sow dissension at homeland thereby arm
‘ the neighbouring nations against us; whilst, at the
* same time, they prohibit the citizens from repelling an
‘ invasion they had brought upon them, and not smart
' for their impudence ? Shall thejr give every encourage-
‘ ment to the enemy, but the ceremony of an invitation,
‘ and not permit an army to be levied to make head
‘ against them? But this Canuleius has the effrontery to
‘ declare in open senate, that if the Patricians will not
' receive his laws, as those of a despotic conqueror, he
* will not suffer a single mgn to enlist. L not this an
' open declaration, a plain menace, that he will betray
‘ his country ?—That he will suffer it to be invested, and
‘ calmly stand by and see it taken? Such a sentiment?
‘ with what courage must it inspire—not the Roman
‘ people—but thoir declared enemies, the iEqui, Volsci,
* and Vejentes? Conducted by this demagogue, can
* they look for any thing less, than the possession of the
* citadel and capitol, if the fathers, together with their
* dignity and civil rights, do not also surrender to the
‘ tribunes their courage and resolution ? But they would
‘ have them to know, that the consuls were determined
* to take the lead in extirpating wickedness at home, be-
‘ fore they stirred to oppose the incursions of the enemy.*
CHAP. III.
Speech of Canuleius.
W HILST these things were warmly insisted on in the
senate, Canuleius, in defence of his laws, and in opposi¬
tion to the consuls, spoke to the following effect: ‘I