§1.50.1iam magna Tarquini auctoritas inter Latinorum proceres erat, cum in diem certam ut ad lucum Ferentinae conveniant indicit: esse, quae agere de rebus communibus velit.
Tarquin's influence was already great among the leaders of the Latins, when he appointed a certain day for them to meet at the grove of Ferentina, saying that there were matters concerning their common interests that he wished to discuss.
§1.50.2conveniunt frequentes prima luce; ipse Tarquinius diem quidem servavit, sed paulo ante, quam sol occideret, venit.
They assembled in large numbers at daybreak; Tarquin himself did indeed keep the day, but arrived only a little before sunset.
multa ibi toto die in concilio variis iactata sermonibus erant.
Meanwhile, many things had been bandied about in various discussions in the council during the whole day.
§1.50.3Turnus Herdonius ab Aricia ferociter in absentem Tarquinium erat invectus: haud mirum esse Superbo inditum Romae cognomen — iam enim ita clam quidem mussitantes, vulgo tamen eum appellabant —; an quicquam superbius esse quam ludificari sic omne nomen Latinum? principibus longe ab domo excitis ipsum,
Turnus Herdonius of Aricia had fiercely inveighed against the absent Tarquin: "It was no wonder that the surname of 'the Proud' had been given to him at Rome—for already they were calling him so, albeit muttering in secret, yet commonly—; was there anything more proud than thus to mock the whole Latin name?
§1.50.4qui concilium indixerit, non adesse.
When the leading men had been summoned far from home, he himself, who had called the council, was not present.
temptari profecto patientiam, ut, si iugum acceperint, obnoxios premat.
Their patience was surely being tested, so that, if they accepted the yoke, he might oppress them as submissive.
cui enim non apparere, adfectare eum imperium in Latinos?
For to whom did it not appear that he was aiming at supreme power over the Latins?
§1.50.5quod si sui bene crediderint cives aut si creditum illud et non raptum parricidio sit, credere et Latinos, quamquam ne sic quidem alienigenae, debere; §1.50.6sin suos eius paeniteat, quippe qui alii super alios trucidentur, exulatum eant, bona amittant, quid spei melioris Latinis portendi? si se audiant, domum suam quemque inde abituros neque magis observaturos diem concilii, quam ipse, qui indixerit, observet.
If his own citizens had done well to entrust [the power to him], or if that power had indeed been entrusted and not seized by parricide, then the Latins also ought to trust him, although not even so should they trust a foreigner; but if his own people repented of him—since they were being slaughtered one after another, going into exile, losing their property—what better hope was foreshadowed for the Latins?
§1.50.7haec atque alia eodem pertinentia seditiosus facinorosusque homo hisque artibus opes domi nactus cum maxime dissereret, intervenit Tarquinius.
If they would listen to him, they would each depart thence to their homes, and would no more observe the day of the council than he who had summoned it observed it." While this man—factious, turbulent, and one who had obtained power at home by these very arts—was arguing these and other points tending in the same direction, Tarquin arrived.
§1.50.8is finis orationi fuit; aversi omnes ad Tarquinium salutandum.
This was the end of the speech; all turned to greet Tarquin.
qui silentio facto monitus a proximis, ut purgaret se, quod id temporis venisset, disceptatorem ait se sumptum inter patrem et filium, cura reconciliandi eos in gratiam moratum esse et, quia ea res exemisset illum diem, postero die acturum, quae constituisset.
When silence was made, being advised by those nearest to excuse himself for having come at that time of day, he said that he had been chosen as an arbitrator between a father and a son, and had been delayed by the care of reconciling them; and because that business had taken up that day, he would deal on the following day with the matters he had determined.
§1.50.9ne id quidem ab Turno tulisse tacitum ferunt; dixisse enim nullam breviorem esse cognitionem quam inter patrem et filium, paucisque transigi verbis posse: ni pareat patri, habiturum infortunium esse.
They say that he did not even carry this off in silence from Turnus; for Turnus had said that there was no shorter trial than that between a father and a son, and that it could be settled in a few words: if he did not obey his father, he would get into trouble.