§7.64.1τοῦτο τὸ κατηγόρημα πολλὴν ἐποίησε τὴν ἐπὶ θάτερα μεταβολήν.
This accusation caused a great change to the other side.
οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἐπιεικέστεροί τε καὶ σπουδάζοντες ὑπὲρ ἀφέσεως τοῦ ἀνδρὸς μαλακώτεροι τούτων ἀκούσαντες ἐγένοντο, τὸ δὲ κακόηθες ἅπαν, ὃ τοῦ δήμου πλεῖστον μέρος ἦν, ἐκ παντὸς ἀπολέσαι τὸν ἄνδρα δήπου προθυμούμενον, ἔτι μᾶλλον εἰς ταῦτʼ ἐπερρώσθη μεγάλης ἀφορμῆς καὶ φανερᾶς §7.64.2λαβόμενον.
For the more moderate and those who were anxious for the man's acquittal became softer upon hearing these things, while the whole malicious faction, which was the largest part of the people and had indeed been eager by all means to destroy the man, was still more strengthened in this purpose, having seized a great and manifest opportunity.
ἦν γὰρ ἀληθὴς ἡ τῶν λαφύρων διάδοσις, οὐ μὴν ἐκ προαιρέσεώς γε πονηρᾶς καὶ ἐπὶ κατασκευῇ τυραννίδος, ὡς ὁ Δέκιος ᾐτιᾶτο, γενομένη, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ παντὸς τοῦ βελτίστου καὶ ἐπανορθώσεως ἕνεκα τῶν κατεχόντων τὰ κοινὰ κακῶν.
For the distribution of the spoils was indeed a fact, not however having occurred from a wicked purpose or for the establishment of a tyranny, as Decius charged, but from the very best intention and for the sake of correcting the evils that possessed the state.
στασιάζοντος γὰρ ἔτι καὶ διεστηκότος ἀπὸ τῶν πατρικίων τοῦ πλήθους τότε καταφρονήσαντες οἱ πολέμιοι καταδρομὰς τῆς χώρας ἐποιοῦντο καὶ λεηλασίας συνεχεῖς· καὶ ὁπότε δόξειε τῇ βουλῇ τὴν κωλύσουσαν ταῦτα δύναμιν ἐξελθεῖν, οὐδεὶς ἐξῄει τῶν δημοτῶν, ἀλλʼ ἐπέχαιρόν τε καὶ περιεώρων τὰ γινόμενα· ἡ δὲ τῶν πατρικίων χεὶρ οὐκ ἦν καθʼ §7.64.3ἑαυτὴν ἀξιόμαχος.
For when the multitude was still in sedition and stood aloof from the patricians, the enemy, holding them in contempt, made incursions into the country and continual raids; and whenever the senate resolved that a force should go out to prevent these things, none of the plebeians would march out, but they rather rejoiced and looked on at what was happening; and the force of the patricians was not by itself a match for the enemy.
τοῦτο καταμαθὼν ὁ Μάρκιος ὑπέσχετο τοῖς ὑπάτοις, ἐὰν ἐπιτρέψωσιν αὐτῷ τὴν ἡγεμονίαν, στρατιὰν ἄξειν ἑκούσιον ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους καὶ δίκην λήψεσθαι παρʼ αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει.
Marcius, perceiving this, promised the consuls that, if they would commit the command to him, he would lead a volunteer army against the enemy and take vengeance on them quickly.
λαβὼν δὲ τὴν ἐξουσίαν συνεκάλει τούς τε πελάτας καὶ τοὺς φίλους καὶ τῶν ἄλλων πολιτῶν οἷς ἦν βουλομένοις ἀπολαῦσαί τι τῆς τοῦ στρατηγοῦ τύχης κατὰ τὰ πολέμια καὶ ἀρετῆς.
And having received the authority, he called together his clients and friends, and those of the other citizens to whom it was desirable to enjoy some of the general's fortune and valor in war.
ὡς δʼ αὐτῷ χεὶρ ἀξιόμαχος ἐδόκει συνεληλυθέναι, προῆγεν ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους οὐθέν πω προειδότας.
And when a sufficient force seemed to him to have assembled, he led them against the enemy, who as yet knew nothing of it.
§7.64.4ἐμβαλὼν δʼ εἰς χώραν πολλῶν ἀγαθῶν μεστὴν γενόμενος ἀφθόνου λείας κύριος ἐφῆκε τοῖς στρατιώταις ἅπαντα τὰ ληφθέντα διανείμασθαι, ἵνʼ οἱ μὲν συναράμενοι τοῦ ἔργου τὸν τῶν πόνων καρπὸν κομισάμενοι προθύμως ἐπὶ τὰς ἄλλας στρατείας ἀπαντῶσιν· οἱ δʼ ἀποκνήσαντες ἐνθυμηθέντες, ὅσων ἀγαθῶν αὐτοῖς ἐξὸν μεταλαβεῖν, διὰ τὸ στασιάζειν ἀπεκωλύθησαν εἰς τὰς λοιπὰς ἐξόδους γένωνται φρονιμώτεροι.
And having invaded a territory full of many goods and having become master of abundant booty, he permitted the soldiers to distribute among themselves all the things taken, in order that those who had taken part in the work, having received the fruit of their labors, might readily respond to other campaigns; and that those who had shrunk back, reflecting how many goods it had been possible for them to share in, but they were prevented from doing so because of the sedition, might become wiser for the remaining expeditions.
§7.64.5διάνοια μὲν τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἥδε ἐγένετο περὶ τὸ ἔργον· χόλῳ δʼ ὑπούλῳ καὶ φθόνῳ δυσμενῶν αὐτὴ καθʼ αὑτὴν ἡ πρᾶξις ἐξεταζομένη δημαγωγία τις ἐφαίνετο εἶναι καὶ δεκασμὸς τυραννικός.
This indeed was the intention of the man concerning the deed; but when the action itself was examined in the light of the festering anger and envy of his adversaries, it appeared to be a kind of demagogy and tyrannical bribery.
ὥστε βοῆς καὶ θορύβου πᾶσα ἦν ἀνάπλεως ἡ ἀγορά, καὶ οὔθʼ ὁ Μάρκιος πρὸς ταῦτʼ εἶχεν, ὅ τι ἀπολογήσαιτο, οὔθʼ ὁ ὕπατος οὔτʼ ἄλλος οὐδείς, οἷα δὴ παραδόξου καὶ ἀπροσδοκήτου φανείσης ἐπὶ σφίσι τῆς αἰτίας.
So that the forum was entirely full of shouting and clamor, and neither Marcius knew what defense to make against these things, nor the consul, nor anyone else, since the accusation had appeared against them in a strange and unexpected manner.
§7.64.6ἐπειδὴ δʼ οὐδεὶς οὐκέτι ἀπελογεῖτο, ἀνέδωκαν οἱ δήμαρχοι τὴν ψῆφον ταῖς φυλαῖς τίμημα ἐπιγράψαντες τῇ δίκῃ φυγὴν ἀίδιον, κατὰ δέος, οἶμαι, τοῦ μὴ ἂν ἁλῶναι τὸν ἄνδρα θανάτου.
And when no one defended him any longer, the tribunes submitted the vote to the tribes, having written down perpetual exile as the penalty for the trial, out of fear, I suppose, that the man might not be convicted on a capital charge.
ὡς δʼ ἐπεψήφισαν ἅπαντες, διαριθμουμένων τῶν ψήφων οὐ μέγα τὸ διάλλαγμα ἐφάνη.
And when they had all voted, as the votes were being counted, the difference appeared not to be great.
μιᾶς γὰρ καὶ εἴκοσι τότε φυλῶν οὐσῶν, οἷς ἡ ψῆφος ἀνεδόθη, τὰς ἀπολυούσας φυλὰς ἔσχεν ὁ Μάρκιος ἐννέα· ὥστʼ εἰ δύο προσῆλθον αὐτῷ φυλαί, διὰ τὴν ἰσοψηφίαν ἀπελέλυτʼ ἄν, ὥσπερ ὁ νόμος ἠξίου.
For although there were then twenty-one tribes, to whom the vote was submitted, Marcius had nine tribes acquitting him; so that if two more tribes had come over to him, on account of the equality of votes he would have been acquitted, just as the law required.