§7.16.1ἐδικαίουν δʼ οἱ μὲν ὕπατοι τὴν κρείττονα ἔχοντες ἐξουσίαν ἁπάντων ἄρχειν τῶν ἐν τῇ πόλει, οἱ δὲ δήμαρχοι τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἑαυτῶν εἶναι χωρίον ὥσπερ ἐκείνων τὴν βουλήν, καὶ ὁπόσα ἐπὶ τοῖς δημόταις ἦν κρίνειν τε καὶ ψηφίζεσθαι, τούτων αὐτοὶ πᾶν ἔχειν τὸ κρίτος.
The consuls, as having the superior authority, claimed the right to rule over everyone in the city, while the tribunes claimed that the assembly was their own domain, just as the senate was that of the consuls, and that they themselves should have full authority over all matters that belonged to the plebeians to judge and vote upon.
συνηγωνίζετο δὲ τοῖς μὲν ἡ πληθὺς ἐπιβοῶσα καὶ ὁμόσε χωρεῖν, εἰ δέοι, τοῖς κωλύουσι παρεσκευασμένη, τοῖς δʼ ὑπάτοις οἱ πατρίκιοι συστρέψαντες αὑτούς.
The multitude supported the tribunes, shouting aloud and prepared to come to blows, if necessary, with those who opposed them, while the patricians, banding together, defended the consuls.
§7.16.2ἐγίνετο δὲ πολὺς ἀγὼν περὶ τοῦ μὴ εἶξαι ἑκατέροις, ὡς ἐν μιᾷ τῇ τότε ἥττῃ παραχωρουμένης τῆς εἰς τὸν λοιπὸν χρόνον ἑκατέρων δικαιώσεως.
Thus a great contest arose over not yielding to either side, as they felt that by a single defeat at that time, the claims of each side for the future would be surrendered.
ἥλιός τε περὶ καταφορὰν ἦν ἤδη, καὶ συνέτρεχεν ἐκ τῶν οἰκιῶν τὸ ἄλλο πλῆθος εἰς τὴν ἀγοράν, καὶ ἔμελλον, εἰ νὺξ ἐπιλαμβάνοι τὴν ἔριν, εἰς πληγάς τε καὶ λίθων χωρήσειν βολάς.
The sun was already near setting, and the rest of the multitude was running together from their houses into the forum, and they were likely, if night overtook the strife, to resort to blows and the throwing of stones.
§7.16.3ἵνα δὴ μὴ τοῦτο γένοιτο, προελθὼν ὁ Βροῦτος τοὺς ὑπάτους ἠξίου δοῦναι λόγον αὐτῷ, παύσειν ὑπισχνούμενος τὴν στάσιν.
To prevent this, Brutus came forward and requested the consuls to grant him leave to speak, promising that he would put an end to the sedition.
κἀκεῖνοι δόξαντες σφίσι παρακεχωρῆσθαι, ὅτι τῶν δημάρχων παρόντων οὐ παρʼ ἐκείνων ὁ δημαγωγὸς ᾐτήσατο τὴν χάριν, ἐπιτρέπουσιν αὐτῷ λέγειν.
And they, thinking that a concession had been made to them because the demagogue, though the tribunes were present, had not asked that favor of them, permitted him to speak.
σιωπῆς δὲ γενομένης ἄλλο μὲν οὐδὲν ὁ Βροῦτος εἶπεν, ἠρώτησε δὲ τοὺς ὑπάτους τοιάνδε τινὰ §7.16.4ἐρώτησιν· ἆρά γʼ, ἔφη, μέμνησθʼ, ὅτι διαλυομένοις ἡμῖν τὴν στάσιν τοῦτο συνεχωρήθη τὸ δίκαιον ὑφʼ ὑμῶν, ὅταν οἱ δήμαρχοι συναγάγωσι τὸν δῆμον ὑπὲρ ὁτουδήτινος, μὴ παρεῖναι τῇ συνόδῳ τοὺς πατρικίους μηδʼ ἐνοχλεῖν; μεμνήμεθʼ, ἔφησεν ὁ Γεγάνιος.
When silence was obtained, Brutus said nothing else but asked the consuls the following question: "Do you remember," he said, "that when we were settling our sedition, this right was conceded to us by you, that whenever the tribunes should assemble the people for any matter whatsoever, the patricians should not be present at the gathering nor disturb it?" "We remember," said Geganius.
καὶ ὁ Βροῦτος ὑποφέρει· τί οὖν παθόντες ἐμποδὼν ἵστασθʼ ἡμῖν καὶ οὐκ ἐᾶτε τοὺς δημάρχους ἃ βούλονται λέγειν; ἀποκρίνεται πρὸς ταῦθʼ ὁ Γεγάνιος· ὅτι οὐκ αὐτοὶ συνεκάλεσαν τὸν δῆμον εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ἀλλʼ ἡμεῖς οἱ ὕπατοι.
And Brutus retorted: "What has possessed you, then, to stand in our way and not allow the tribunes to say what they wish?" To this Geganius replied: "Because it was not they who called the people to the assembly, but we, the consuls.
εἰ μὲν οὖν ὑπὸ τούτων ἡ σύνοδος ἐγένετο, οὐθὲν ἂν ἠξιοῦμεν οὔτε κωλύειν οὔτε πολυπραγμονεῖν· ἐπειδὴ δʼ ἡμεῖς συνηγάγομεν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, οὐχὶ τούτους ἀγορεύειν κωλύομεν, ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ τούτων αὐτοὶ §7.16.5κωλύεσθαι οὐ δικαιοῦμεν. καὶ ὁ Βροῦτος ὑποτυχών· νικῶμεν, ἔφησεν, ὦ δημόται, καὶ παρακεχώρηται ἡμῖν ὑπὸ τῶν διαφόρων ὅσα ἠξιοῦμεν.
If, therefore, the gathering had been held by them, we should not have claimed the right either to prevent or to meddle; but since we have assembled the people, we are not preventing them from speaking, but we do not think it right that we ourselves should be prevented by them." And Brutus, interrupting, said: "We win, fellow citizens, and everything we claimed has been conceded to us by our opponents.
νῦν μὲν οὖν ἄπιτε καὶ παύσασθε φιλονεικοῦντες· αὔριον δʼ ὑμῖν ὑπισχνοῦμαι φανερὰν ποιήσειν ὅσην ἔχετε ἰσχύν.
For the present, therefore, depart and cease contending; tomorrow I promise to make clear to you how much power you possess.
καὶ ὑμεῖς γʼ, ὦ δήμαρχοι, παραχωρήσατε αὐτοῖς τῆς ἀγορᾶς ἐν τῷ παρόντι· οὐ γὰρ εἰς τέλος παραχωρήσετε·
And do you, tribunes, yield the forum to them for the present; for you will not yield it forever.
μαθόντες δʼ ὅσον ἔχει κράτος ὑμῶν ἡ ἀρχή· γνώσεσθε γὰρ οὐκ εἰς μακράν· ἐγὼ τοῦθʼ ὑμῖν ὑποδέχομαι ποιήσειν φανερόν· μετριωτέραν αὐτῶν ἀποδώσετε τὴν ὑπερηφανίαν.
When you have learned how much power your office has—for you will know before long, and I undertake to make this clear to you—you will render their pride more moderate.
ἐὰν δὲ φενακίζων ὑμᾶς εὑρεθῶ, χρήσασθʼ ὅ τι βούλεσθέ μοι.
And if I am found to be deceiving you, treat me as you please."