§2.11.1οὐ μόνον δʼ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ πόλει τὸ δημοτικὸν ὑπὸ τὴν προστασίαν τῶν πατρικίων ἦν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἀποίκων αὐτῆς πόλεων καὶ τῶν ἐπὶ συμμαχίᾳ καὶ φιλίᾳ προσελθουσῶν καὶ τῶν ἐκ πολέμου κεκρατημένων ἑκάστη φύλακας εἶχε καὶ προστάτας οὓς ἐβούλετο Ῥωμαίων.
Not only in the city itself were the plebeians under the protection of the patricians, but also each of its colony cities, and of those that had entered into alliance and friendship, and of those conquered in war, had as guardians and patrons such of the Romans as they wished.
καὶ πολλάκις ἡ βουλὴ τὰ ἐκ τούτων ἀμφισβητήματα τῶν πόλεων καὶ ἐθνῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς προϊσταμένους αὐτῶν ἀποστέλλουσα, τὰ ὑπʼ ἐκείνων δικασθέντα κύρια ἡγεῖτο. §2.11.2οὕτω δὲ ἄρα βέβαιος ἦν ἡ Ῥωμαίων ὁμόνοια τὴν ἀρχὴν ἐκ τῶν ὑπὸ Ῥωμύλου κατασκευασθέντων λαβοῦσα ἐθῶν, ὥστε οὐδέποτε διʼ αἵματος καὶ φόνου τοῦ κατʼ ἀλλήλων ἐχώρησαν ἐντὸς ἑξακοσίων καὶ τριάκοντα ἐτῶν, πολλῶν καὶ μεγάλων ἀμφισβητημάτων γενομένων τῷ δήμῳ πρὸς τοὺς ἐν τέλει περὶ τῶν κοινῶν, ὡς ἐν ἁπάσαις φιλεῖ γίγνεσθαι μικραῖς τε καὶ μεγάλαις πόλεσιν· §2.11.3ἀλλὰ πείθοντες καὶ διδάσκοντες ἀλλήλους καὶ τὰ μὲν εἴκοντες, τὰ δὲ παρʼ εἰκόντων λαμβάνοντες, πολιτικὰς ἐποιοῦντο τὰς τῶν ἐγκλημάτων διαλύσεις.
And often the senate, referring the disputes of these cities and nations to their patrons, considered valid the decisions rendered by them. So secure, then, was the harmony of the Romans, taking its origin from the customs established by Romulus, that they never proceeded to bloodshed and mutual murder within six hundred and thirty years, although many and great disputes arose between the people and the magistrates concerning public affairs, as is wont to happen in all cities, both small and great; but persuading and teaching one another, and partly yielding, and partly receiving concessions from those who yielded, they made political settlements of their grievances.
ἐξ οὗ δὲ Γάιος Γράκχος ἐπὶ τῆς δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας γενόμενος διέφθειρε τὴν τοῦ πολιτεύματος ἁρμονίαν, οὐκέτι πέπαυνται σφάττοντες ἀλλήλους καὶ φυγάδας ἐλαύνοντες ἐκ τῆς πόλεως καὶ οὐδενὸς τῶν ἀνηκέστων ἀπεχόμενοι παρὰ τὸ νικᾶν.
But from the time when Gaius Gracchus, having entered upon the tribunician power, destroyed the harmony of the constitution, they have never ceased slaughtering one another, driving exiles from the city, and refraining from no extreme measures for the sake of victory.
ἀλλὰ περὶ μὲν τούτων ἕτερος ἔσται τοῖς λόγοις καιρὸς ἐπιτηδειότερος.
But concerning these matters there will be another, more suitable occasion for my narrative.