Curiosities & wonders > Titus Livius' Roman history

Chap. 26.
ROMAN. HISTORY.
347
‘ friends among the commons, and their coonlenance
‘ once obtained, they would not fail to promote them/
Wherefore, it was resolved, that a law should be pro¬
posed, in order to put an effectual stop to intriguing, that
for the future no person appearing as a candidate for an
office, should affect to be distinguished by the whiteness
of his robes. At this period, a dispute so trifling would
be little regarded ; but, however much it may appear
like a farce now, between the senators and the people
then, it was a very serious affair. The tribunes prevail¬
ed, and the law passed.. As the present animosity of the
people gave reason to suspect that they would be biassed
„ in favour of their own party ; therefore, ro put it out of
their power to prefer them, the senate enacted, that the
comitia for electing consuls should be held this year.
CHAP. XXVI.
The Tribunes compel the Consuls to name a Dictator.
_/\d\TCES from the Hernici and the Latins, that the
Volsci and JEqui were in motion, furnished an apology
for this resolution. T. Quinctius Cincinnatus, the son of
Lucius, sirnamed also Pennus, and C. Julius Mento,
were made consuls. This dreadful war was no longer
delayed : for, by means of a sacred law among them,
the most effectual means of raising an army, having
made up their quotas, each nation led a formidable partv
to the Algidus, the place agreed on for their general ren¬
dezvous. .There the iEqui and Volsci fortified two sepa¬
rate encampments, their generals discovering a much
greater degree of attention in disciplining the troops and
securing the lines, than ever they had done on any for¬
mer occasion.
These accounts increased the consternation at Rome,
so much the more. The senate were determined to
name a dictator; because, though they had to do with a
people who had often shewn them their backs, they
seemed at this time resolved on an extraordinary effort;
and besides, the strength of the Romans was impaired
by the loss of some of their youth, that had been cut of!
by the raging distemper. But, nothing gave them so
much concern as the perverseness of the consuls, their