§2.28.1A. Verginius inde et T. Vetusius consulatum ineunt.
Aulus Verginius then and Titus Vetusius entered upon the consulship.
tum vero plebs incerta, quales habitura consules esset, coetus nocturnes, pars Esquiliis, pars in Aventino facere, ne in foro subitis trepidaret consiliis et omnia temere ac fortuito ageret.
Then indeed the plebeians, uncertain what kind of consuls they were going to have, began to hold nightly meetings, partly on the Esquiline, partly on the Aventine, lest they should be thrown into confusion in the forum by sudden decisions, and do everything rashly and at random.
§2.28.2eam rem consules rati, ut erat, perniciosam ad patres deferunt, sed de ea tum consulere ordine non licuit; adeo tumultuose excepta est clamoribus undique et indignatione patrum, si, quod imperio consulari exsequendum esset, invidiam eius consules ad senatum reicerent.
The consuls, considering this matter, as indeed it was, to be ruinous, laid it before the patricians; but it was not possible then to consult in an orderly manner about it; so tumultuously was it received with clamors from all sides and with the indignation of the senators, that the consuls should refer back the unpopularity of that which ought to be executed by consular power to the senate.
§2.28.3profecto, si essent in re publica magistratus, nullum futurum fuisse Romae nisi publicum consilium; §2.28.4nunc in mille curias contionesque, cum alia Esquiliis, alia in Aventino fiant concilia, dispersam et dissipatam esse rem publicam.
Indeed, if there were magistrates in the state, there would have been no council in Rome except the public one; but now, since some councils were held on the Esquiline, others on the Aventine, the state was dispersed and scattered into a thousand senate-houses and assemblies.
unum hercule virum — id enim plus esse quam consulem —, qualis Ap. Claudius fuerit, momento temporis discussurum illos coetus fuisse.
By Hercules, a single man—for that was more than a consul—such as Appius Claudius had been, would have dispersed those meetings in a moment of time.
§2.28.5correpti consules cum, quid ergo se facere vellent, nihil enim segnius molliusve, quam patribus placeat, acturos, percunctarentur, decernunt, ut dilectum quam acerrimum habeant: otio lascivire plebem.
The consuls, having been rebuked, when they asked what, then, they wished them to do—for they would do nothing more sluggishly or softly than pleased the senators—they decreed that they should hold a levy as strictly as possible: that the plebeians were growing wanton from idleness.
dimisso senatu consules in tribunal escendunt; §2.28.6citant nominatim iuniores.
The senate having been dismissed, the consuls ascended the tribunal; they summoned the younger men by name.
cum ad nomen nemo responderet, circumfusa multitudo in contionis modum negare ultra decipi plebem posse; §2.28.7numquam unum militem habituros, ni praestaretur fides publica; libertatem unicuique prius reddendam esse quam arma danda, ut pro patria civibusque, non pro dominis pugnent.
When no one answered to his name, the surrounding multitude, in the manner of an assembly, declared that the plebeians could no longer be deceived; that they would never have a single soldier unless public faith were guaranteed; that liberty must be restored to each individual before arms were given, so that they might fight for their country and fellow citizens, not for masters.
§2.28.8consules, quid mandatum esset a senatu, videbant, sed eorum, qui intra parietes curiae ferociter loquerentur, neminem adesse invidiae suae participem.
The consuls saw what had been commanded by the senate, but that none of those who spoke so fiercely within the walls of the senate-house was present to share their unpopularity.
et apparebat atrox cum plebe certamen.
And a fierce contest with the plebeians was clearly imminent.
§2.28.9prius itaque quam ultima experirentur, senatum iterum consulere placuit.
Therefore, before they should try extreme measures, they decided to consult the senate again.
tum vero ad sellas consulum propere convolavere minimus quisque natu patrum, abdicare consulatum iubentes et deponere imperium, ad quod tuendum animus deesset.
Then indeed all the youngest of the senators flew hastily to the chairs of the consuls, ordering them to abdicate the consulship and lay down the power, for the preservation of which they lacked courage.