§2.48.1igitur non patrum magis quam plebis studiis K. Fabius cum T. Verginio consul factus neque belli neque dilectus neque ullam aliam priorem curam agere, quam ut iam aliqua ex parte inchoata concordiae spe primo quoque tempore cum patribus coalescerent animi plebis.
Therefore, K. Fabius, having been made consul along with T. Verginius by the support of the plebeians no less than that of the patricians, attended to neither war, nor enlistment, nor any other care prior to this: that the minds of the plebeians should coalesce with the patricians at the very first opportunity, through the hope of harmony already in some measure begun.
§2.48.2itaque principio anni censuit, priusquam quisquam agrariae legis auctor tribunus existeret, occuparent patres ipsi suum munus facere, captivum agrum plebi quam maxime aequaliter darent: §2.48.3verum esse habere eos, quorum sanguine ac sudore partus sit.
And so, at the beginning of the year, he proposed that, before any tribune should appear as a promoter of an agrarian law, the patricians themselves should forestall them by doing their own duty, and should give the captured land to the plebeians as equally as possible: that it was just for those to possess it by whose blood and sweat it had been won.
aspernati patres sunt; questi quoque quidam nimia gloria luxuriare et evanescere vividum quondam illud Caesonis ingenium.
The patricians rejected this; some also complained that the once vigorous talent of Caeso was growing wanton and fading away through excessive glory.
nullae deinde urbanae factiones fuere.
After that, there were no urban factions.
vexabantur incursionibus Aequorum Latini.
The Latins were being harassed by the incursions of the Aequi.
§2.48.4eo cum exercitu Caeso missus in ipsorum Aequorum agrum depopulandum transit.
Caeso, having been sent thither with an army, crossed over into the territory of the Aequi themselves to lay it waste.
Aeque se in oppida receperunt murisque se tenebant.
The Aequi retreated into their towns and kept themselves within their walls.
eo nulla pugna memorabilis fuit.
Consequently, there was no memorable battle there.
§2.48.5at a Veiente hoste clades accepta temeritate alterius consulis, actumque de exercitu foret, ni K. Fabius in tempore subsidio venisset.
But a defeat was sustained from the Veientine enemy through the rashness of the other consul, and it would have been all over with the army had not K. Fabius come to its assistance in time.
ex eo tempore neque pax neque bellum cum Veientibus fuit; res proxime formam latrocinii venerat: §2.48.6legionibus Romanis cedebant in urbem; ubi abductas senserant legiones, agros incursabant bellum quiete, quietem bello in vicem eludentes.
From that time on, there was neither peace nor war with the Veientines; the matter had come very near to the form of brigandage: they yielded to the Roman legions into their city; when they perceived that the legions were withdrawn, they raided the fields, eluding war by quiet and quiet by war in turn.
ita neque omitti tota res nec perfici poterat.
Thus the whole business could neither be abandoned nor finished.
et alia bella aut praesentia instabant, ut ab Aequis Volscisque, non diutius, quam dum recens dolor proximae cladis transiret, quiescentibus, aut mox moturos esse apparebat Sabinos semper infestos Etruriamque omnem.
And other wars were either threatening immediately, as from the Aequi and Volsci, who remained quiet no longer than until the fresh pain of their recent defeat should pass away, or it was apparent that the always hostile Sabines and all Etruria would soon be in motion.
§2.48.7sed Veiens hostis, adsiduus magis quam gravis, contumeliis saepius quam periculo animos agitabat, quod nullo tempore neglegi poterat aut averti alio sinebat.
But the Veientine enemy, persistent rather than formidable, harassed their minds more often with insults than with danger, which could at no time be neglected nor allowed their attention to be turned elsewhere.
Tum Fabia gens senatum adiit.
Then the Fabian clan went to the senate.
§2.48.8consul pro gente loquitur: “adsiduo magis quam magno praesidio, ut scitis, patres conscripti, bellum Veiens eget.
The consul spoke on behalf of the clan: "The Veientine war, as you know, conscript fathers, requires a constant rather than a large force.
vos alia bella curate, Fabios hostis Veientibus date.
Do you attend to the other wars, and give the Fabii as enemies to the Veientines.
auctores sumus tutam ibi maiestatem Romani nominis fore.
We guarantee that the majesty of the Roman name will be safe there.
§2.48.9nostrum id nobis velut familiare bellum privato sumptu gerere in animo est; res publica et milite illic et pecunia vacet. ” §2.48.10gratiae ingentes actae.
It is our intention to wage this war as if it were a family war, at our own private expense; let the republic be free from both soldier and money there." Immense thanks were returned.
consul e curia egressus comitante Fabiorum agmine, qui in vestibulo curiae senatus consultum expectantes steterant, domum redit.
The consul, having gone out of the senate house, returned home, accompanied by the train of the Fabii, who had stood in the vestibule of the senate house waiting for the decree of the senate.
iussi armati postero die ad limen consulis adesse; domos inde discedunt.
They were ordered to attend armed at the consul's threshold on the following day; thence they departed to their homes.