History of Rome

​On the Pomptine territory, action was taken by Lucius Sicinius, tribune of the plebs, before a crowd that was now more numerous and more excitable in its desire for land than it had been.

​And the mention made in the senate of a war with the Latins and Hernicians was postponed due to the concern for a greater war, because Etruria was in arms.

​The responsibility returned to Camillus, military tribune with consular power; five colleagues were added: Servius Cornelius Maluginensis, Quintus Servilius Fidenas for the sixth time, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, Lucius Horatius Pulvillus, and Publius Valerius.

​At the beginning of the year, the attention of the people was diverted from the Etruscan war because a column of refugees from the Pomptine territory, suddenly entering the city, brought news that the Antiates were in arms and that the Latin states had sent their young men to that war, ​denying on that account that it was a public decision, saying that they had merely not forbidden volunteers from serving where they wished. By now, people had ceased to despise any war.

​Therefore the senate gave thanks to the gods because Camillus was in office: for indeed, he would have had to be named dictator if he had been a private citizen; and his colleagues confessed that the direction of all affairs, whenever any terror of war threatened, ​rested in one man alone, and that they had resolved in their minds to submit their authority to Camillus, believing that nothing was detracted from their own dignity by yielding to the dignity of that man. After the tribunes were highly praised by the senate, Camillus himself, deeply moved in mind, expressed his thanks.

​He said that a huge burden was laid upon him by the Roman people, who had now elected him for the fourth time, a great one by the senate through such judgments of that order concerning him, and the greatest by the so honorable deference of his colleagues.

​Therefore, if any labor and watchfulness could be added, he, competing with himself, would strive to make the very high opinion of him, held by the state with such great consensus, also enduring. As far as the war and the Antiates were concerned, ​there were more threats than danger there; yet he advised that, just as they should fear nothing, so they should despise nothing.

​The Roman city was surrounded by the envy and hatred of its neighbors; therefore the commonwealth had to be administered both by more leaders and by more armies. “You,” he said, ”Lucius Valerius, as my partner in command and counsel, I wish to lead the legions with me against the enemy of Antium;

​you, Quintus Servilius, with another army organized and prepared, I wish to keep camp near the city, watchful in case either Etruria meanwhile should move, as recently, or this new concern, the Latins and Hernicians; I hold for certain that you will conduct the affair in a manner worthy of your father, grandfather, yourself, and your six tribunates.

​Let a third army be enrolled from those exempt from service and the seniors by Lucius Quinctius, to serve as a protection for the city and the walls. Let Lucius Horatius provide arms, weapons, corn, and whatever else the circumstances of the war shall demand.

​You, Servius Cornelius, we, your colleagues, make the president of this public council, the guardian of religion, of the assemblies, of the laws, and of all affairs of the city.”

​While all of them kindly promised their cooperation in their respective shares of duty, Valerius, who had been chosen as partner in command, added that Marcus Furius would be as a dictator to him, and he would be as a master of the horse to him;

​therefore, they should have the same hope for the war as they had confidence in their unique commander. Indeed, the senators, hoping well both for war and peace and the entire commonwealth, shouted with joy, deeply stirred, ​and said that the republic would never have need of a dictator if it had such men in office, joined by such harmonious minds, equally ready to obey and to command, and conferring praise rather upon the common stock than drawing it from the public to themselves.