§2.34.1consules deinde T. Geganius P. Minucius facti.
Then Titus Geganius and Publius Minucius were made consuls.
eo anno, cum et foris quieta omnia a bello essent et domi sanata discordia, §2.34.2aliud multo gravius malum civitatem invasit, caritas primum annonae ex incultis per secessionem plebis agris, fames deinde, qualis clausis solet.
In that year, while everything was quiet abroad from war and discord had been healed at home, another much more serious evil invaded the state: first, the high price of provisions resulting from the uncultivated fields due to the secession of the plebs, and then a famine, such as is usual for those who are besieged.
§2.34.3ventumque ad interitum servitiorum utique et plebis esset, ni consules providissent dimissis passim ad frumentum coemendum non in Etruriam modo dextris ab Ostia litoribus laevoque per Volscos mari usque ad Cumas, sed in Siciliam quoque; adeo finitimorum odia longinquis coegerant indigere auxiliis.
And they would have come to the destruction of the slaves and especially the plebs, if the consuls had not made provision by sending agents in all directions to buy up corn, not only into Etruria, along the coast to the right from Ostia, and by the sea to the left through the Volscians as far as Cumae, but also into Sicily; so much had the hatred of their neighbors forced them to stand in need of distant help.
§2.34.4frumentum Cumis cum coemptum esset, naves pro bonis Tarquiniorum ab Aristodemo tyranno, qui heres erat, retentae sunt; in Volscis Pomptinoque ne emi quidem potuit; periculum quoque ab impetu hominum ipsis frumentatoribus fuit;
When the corn had been bought at Cumae, the ships were detained by the tyrant Aristodemus as compensation for the property of the Tarquins, whose heir he was; among the Volscians and in the Pomptine territory it could not even be bought; there was also danger to the grain collectors themselves from the violence of the inhabitants.
§2.34.5ex Tuscis frumentum Tiberi venit; eo sustentata est plebs.
From the Etruscans corn came by the Tiber; by this the plebs were sustained.
incommodo bello in tam artis commeatibus vexati forent, ni Volscos iam moventes arma pestilentia ingens invasisset.
They would have been harassed by an inconvenient war in the midst of such tight supplies, had not a great pestilence fallen upon the Volscians, who were already taking up arms.
§2.34.6ea clade conterritis hostium animis, ut etiam, ubi ea remisisset, terrore aliquo tenerentur, et Velitris auxere numerum colonorum Romani et Norbam in montis novam coloniam, quae arx in Pomptino esset, miserunt.
The enemy's spirits having been broken by this disaster, in order that they might still be held by some terror even when the plague had abated, the Romans both increased the number of colonists at Velitrae and sent out a new colony into the mountains at Norba, to be a stronghold in the Pomptine district.
M. Minucio deinde §2.34.7et A. Sempronio consulibus magna vis frumenti ex Sicilia advecta, agitatumque in senatu, quanti plebi daretur.
Then, in the consulship of Marcus Minucius and Aulus Sempronius, a great quantity of corn was imported from Sicily, and it was debated in the senate at what price it should be given to the plebs.
§2.34.8multi venisse tempus premendae plebis putabant recuperandique iura, quae extorta secessione ac vi patribus essent.
Many thought that the time had come for crushing the plebs and recovering the rights which had been extorted from the patricians by secession and violence.
§2.34.9in primis Marcius Coriolanus, hostis tribuniciae potestatis, “si annonam” inquit “veterem volunt, ius pristinum reddant patribus.
In foremost was Marcius Coriolanus, an enemy of the tribunician power, who said: "If they want the old price of provisions, let them restore to the patricians their ancient rights.
cur ego plebeios magistratus, cur Sicinium potentem video sub iugum missus, tamquam ab latronibus redemptus?
Why do I, having been sent under the yoke, as if ransomed from robbers, see plebeian magistrates, why do I see Sicinius powerful?
§2.34.10egone has indignitates diutius patiar quam necesse est? Tarquinium regem qui non tulerim, Sicinium feram? secedat nunc, avocet plebem; patet via in Sacrum montem aliosque colles.
Shall I bear these indignities longer than is necessary? I, who would not endure King Tarquin, shall I endure Sicinius? Let him secede now, let him call away the plebs; the way to the Sacred Mount and other hills lies open.
rapiant frumenta ex agris nostris, quem ad modum tertio anno ante rapuere; fruantur annona, quam furore suo fecere.
Let them plunder the corn from our fields, just as they plundered it three years ago; let them enjoy the price of provisions which they themselves have created by their own madness.
§2.34.11audeo dicere hoc malo domitos ipsos potius cultores agrorum fore, quam ut armati per secessionem coli prohibeant. ” §2.34.12haud tam facile dictu est, faciendumne fuerit, quam potuisse arbitror fieri, ut condicionibus laxandi annonam et tribuniciam potestatem et omnia invitis iura inposita patres demerent sibi.
I dare to say that, subdued by this evil, they will themselves become tillers of the fields, rather than, armed, prevent them from being tilled by secession." It is not so easy to say whether it ought to have been done, as I think it could have been done, that the patricians, by the conditions of lowering the price of corn, might have rid themselves both of the tribunician power and of all the rights imposed upon them against their will.