- Source
- Titi Livi ab urbe condita libri editionem priman, Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
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- CTS URN
- urn:cts:latinLit:phi0914.phi001.humanitext-lat2:6.35.1-6.35.10
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-26
The newly elected tribunes, Licinius and Sextius, propose three major reform bills regarding debt, land, and the consulship. When the patricians counter them by using the veto of other tribunes, Licinius and Sextius block all elections for curule magistrates, leading to a five-year vacancy of offices in Rome.
occasio videbatur rerum novandarum propter ingentem vim aeris alieni, cuius levamen mali plebes nisi suis in summo imperio locatis nullum speraret: accingendum ad eam cogitationem esse;1
It seemed an opportunity for revolution because of the immense burden of debt, of which evil the plebeians could hope for no relief unless their own men were placed in the highest office; they must, therefore, gird themselves for this design.
conando agendoque iam eo gradum fecisse plebeios, unde, si porro adnitantur, pervenire ad summa et patribus aequari tam honore quam virtute possent.
By striving and acting, the plebeians had already made a step to that point from where, if they should strive further, they would be able to reach the highest peaks and be equalled to the patricians as much in honor as in virtue.
in praesentia tribunos plebis fieri placuit, quo in magistratu sibimet ipsi viam ad ceteros honores aperirent.
For the present, it was decided that they should become tribunes of the plebs, so that in this magistracy they might open for themselves the way to other offices.
creatique tribuni C. Licinius et L. Sextius promulgavere leges omnes adversus opes patriciorum et pro commodis plebis, unam de aere alieno, ut deducto eo de capite, quod usuris pernumeratum esset,2 id, quod superesset, triennio aequis pensionibus persolveretur; alteram de modo agrorum, ne quis plus quingentas iugera agri possideret; tertiam, ne tribunorum militum comitia fierent consulumque utique alter ex plebe crearetur, — cuncta ingentia et quae sine certamine maximo obtineri non possent. omnium igitur simul rerum, quarum inmodica cupido inter mortales est, agri, pecuniae, honorum discrimine proposito conterriti patres cum trepidassent publicis privatisque consiliis, nullo remedio alio praeter expertam multis iam ante certaminibus intercessionem invento collegas adversus tribunicias rogationes conparaverunt.
And having been elected tribunes, Gaius Licinius and Lucius Sextius proposed laws, all directed against the power of the patricians and in favor of the advantages of the plebs: one concerning debt, that what had been paid in interest being deducted from the principal, the remainder should be paid off in three years by equal installments; another concerning the limit of land, lest anyone should possess more than five hundred iugera of land; a third, that there should be no elections of military tribunes, and that at all events one of the consuls should be elected from the plebs—all of them mighty matters and such as could not be obtained without the greatest struggle. Therefore, a crisis being presented at one and the same time regarding all things of which there is an immoderate desire among mortals—land, money, and offices—the terrified patricians, when they had panicked in public and private deliberations, finding no other remedy except the veto, which had already been tried in many earlier struggles, won over the other colleagues against the tribunitian proposals.
qui ubi tribus ad suffragium ineundum citari a Licinio Sextioque viderunt, stipati patrum praesidiis ne recitari rogationes nec sollemne quidquam aliud ad sciscendum plebi fieri passi sunt.
When these colleagues saw the tribes summoned by Licinius and Sextius to cast their votes, surrounded by guards of the patricians, they did not allow the proposals to be read out, nor any other customary formality to be performed for the plebeians to vote.
iamque frustra saepe concilio advocato cum pro antiquatis rogationes essent:3 “bene habet” inquit Sextius; “quando quidem tantum intercessionem pollere placet, isto ipso telo tutabimur plebem.
And when, the assembly having now been summoned in vain many times, the proposals were as if rejected, Sextius said: “It is well; since indeed it pleases you that the veto should have such power, we will protect the plebs with that very weapon.
agite dum, comitia indicite, patres, tribunis militum creandis; faxo, ne iuvet4 vox ista “veto,” qua nunc concinentes collegas nostros tam laeti auditis.” haud inritae cecidere minae;
Come then, patricians, proclaim the elections for creating military tribunes; I will see to it that that word ‘I forbid’ does not delight you, which you now so joyfully hear our colleagues singing in harmony.” The threats did not fall in vain;
comitia praeter aedilium tribunorumque plebi nulla sunt habita. Licinius Sextiusque tribuni plebis refecti nullos curules magistratus creari passi sunt; eaque solitudo magistratuum et plebe reficiente duos tribunos et iis comitia tribunorum militum tollentibus per quinquennium urbem tenuit.
no elections were held except those of the aediles and tribunes of the plebs. Licinius and Sextius, having been re-elected tribunes of the plebs, did not allow any curule magistrates to be elected; and this vacancy of magistrates, with the plebs re-electing the two tribunes and these preventing the elections of military tribunes, held the city for five years.
- 6.35.1accingendum ad eam cogitationem esse
An impersonal passive construction using the gerundive of accingere, with esse supplied in indirect discourse (Oratio Obliqua), dependent on the main verb of thinking/seeming (videbatur) in the preceding clause. The dative of agent (plebi or sibi) is understood from the context.
- 6.35.4ut deducto eo de capite, quod usuris pernumeratum esset
The 'ut' clause is a noun clause explaining the contents of the laws (leges). 'deducto eo' is an ablative absolute where the neuter demonstrative pronoun 'eo' (with the relative clause 'quod...esset' modifying it) serves as the subject. 'de capite' means 'from the principal'. The verb 'esset' in the relative clause is subjunctive due to indirect discourse (or characterizing a prospective condition).
- 6.35.8cum pro antiquatis rogationes essent
The conjunction 'cum' introduces a subjunctive of circumstance or concession ('essent'). 'pro antiquatis' means 'as if rejected (or obsolete)', describing a situation where the proposed bills were being treated practically as though they had already been voted down.
- 6.35.9faxo, ne iuvet
'faxo' is an archaic sigmatic future equivalent to 'faciam' (from 'facio'). Followed by 'ne' and the subjunctive ('iuvet'), it functions as 'I will make sure that... not', conveying a strong determination or warning.