§6.50.1ὧν ἑκάτερον ὅσης ἐστὶ μεστὸν εὐηθείας, ἐξ αὐτῶν ὑμᾶς ἀξιώσαιμʼ ἂν ἔγωγε τῶν ἔργων σκοπεῖν ἐνθυμηθέντας, ὅτι διαστασιασάντων πρὸς ὑμᾶς τῶν ταπεινοτέρων διὰ τοὺς οὔτε πολιτικῶς οὔτε μετρίως ταῖς ἀτυχίαις χρησαμένους, καὶ ὑπαναχωρησάντων μὲν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, ἄλλο δὲ μηδὲν ὑμᾶς δεινὸν μήτε ἐργαζομένων μήτε διανοουμένων, ἀλλʼ ὡς διαλλαγήσονται χωρὶς αἰσχύνης σκοπούντων, ἀγαπητῶς δεξάμενοι τὸ συμβὰν ἀπὸ τῆς τύχης πολλοὶ τῶν οὐκ εὖ διανοουμένων πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἀνεπτέρωνται ταῖς γνώμαις, καὶ τοῦτον οἴονται σφίσι παρεῖναι τὸν εὐκταῖον καιρόν, ἐν ᾧ §6.50.2καταλύσουσιν ὑμῶν τὴν ἀρχήν.
As to how much foolishness each of these two assumptions is full of, I for my part would ask you to consider from the facts themselves, bearing in mind that, while the lower classes (the plebeians) have revolted against you because of those who treated their misfortunes neither in a civic nor in a moderate manner, and though they have withdrawn from the city, they are neither doing nor intending any other harm to you, but are only looking to how they might be reconciled without shame, yet many of those who are ill-disposed toward you have gladly welcomed what has happened by fortune, and are elated in their minds, thinking that this coveted opportunity has arrived for them, in which they will destroy your power.
Αἰκανοὶ μέν γε καὶ Οὐολοῦσκοι, Σαβῖνοί τε καὶ τὸ Ἑρνίκων ἔθνος, πρὸς τῷ μηδένα χρόνον ἐξαίρετον πεποιῆσθαι τοῦ πρὸς ἡμᾶς πολέμου, καὶ τοῖς ἔναγχος κακοῖς δυσανασχετοῦντες λῃστεύουσιν ἡμῶν τοὺς ἀγρούς.
For the Aequi and Volsci, the Sabines and the nation of the Hernici, besides having made no time exempt from war against us, and being impatient of their recent disasters, are plundering our fields.
Καμπανίας δὲ καὶ Τυρρηνίας ὅσα ἐνδοιαστῶς ἡμῶν ἀφείμενα διατελεῖ, τὰ μὲν ἐκ τοῦ φανεροῦ ἀφίσταται, τὰ δʼ ἀφανῶς παρασκευάζεται.
And of Campania and Etruria, as many parts as continue to be doubtfully subject to us, some are revolting openly, others are preparing in secret.
δοκεῖ τʼ οὐδὲ τὸ Λατίνων συγγενὲς ἔτι βέβαιον ἡμῖν διαμένειν φίλιον εἰς πύστιν ἐλθόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τούτου πολὺ μέρος διαγγέλλεται νοσεῖν ἔρωτι κρατούμενον, ἧς ἅπαντες γλίχονται, μεταβολῆς·
And even the kindred Latin race no longer seems to remain firmly friendly to us, now that it has heard the news; but even of this a large part is reported to be disaffected, being possessed by a desire for change, which all men covet.
§6.50.3οἱ δὲ τέως ἐπιστρατοπεδεύοντες ἑτέροις, νῦν αὐτοὶ τειχήρεις μένοντες καθήμεθα, γῆν τʼ ἄσπορον ἀφεικότες καὶ αὐλὰς διαρπαζομένας ὁρῶντες λείαν τʼ ἀπελαυνομένην καὶ θεράποντας αὐτομολοῦντας καὶ οὐκ ἔχοντες, ὅ τι χρησόμεθα τοῖς κακοῖς.
And we, who hitherto used to march against others, now ourselves remain shut up within our walls, having left our land unsown, and seeing our farmsteads plundered, our cattle driven off, and our slaves deserting, and not knowing how we shall deal with these evils.
καὶ ταῦτα πάσχοντες ἔτι διαλλαγήσεσθαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐλπίζομεν τὸ δημοτικόν, ἐφʼ ἡμῖν ὑπάρχον εἰδότες ἑνὶ καταλύσασθαι ψηφίσματι τὴν στάσιν;
And though we suffer these things, do we still expect that the plebeians will be reconciled to us, knowing that it is in our power to end the sedition by a single decree?