§22.25.1de his rebus persaepe et in senatu et in contione actum est.
On these matters there was very frequent discussion both in the senate and in the public assembly.
§22.25.2cum laeta civitate dictator unus nihil nec famae nec litteris crederet et, ut vera omnia essent, secunda se magis quam adversa timere diceret, §22.25.3tum M. Metilius tribunus plebis id enim vero ferendum esse negat: §22.25.4non praesentem solum dictatorem obstitisse rei bene gerendae, sed absentem etiam gestae obstare ac sedulo tempus terere, quo diutius in magistratu sit solusque et Romae et in exercitu imperium habeat.
While the state was rejoicing, the dictator alone believed nothing of either the rumor or the letter, and said that, even if everything were true, he feared success more than adversity, then Marcus Metilius, tribune of the plebs, declared that this indeed was not to be endured: that the dictator, when present, had not only stood in the way of acting successfully, but when absent, was also standing in the way of what had been successfully done, and was deliberately wasting time in order to remain longer in office and hold sole command both in Rome and over the army.
§22.25.5quippe consulum alterum in acie cecidisse, alterum specie classis Punicae persequendae procul ab Italia ablegatum; §22.25.6duos praetores Sicilia atque Sardinia occupatos, quarum neutra hoc tempore praetore egeat; M. Minucium magistrum equitum, ne hostem videret, ne quid rei bellicae gereret, prope in custodia habitum.
For indeed, one of the consuls had fallen in battle, and the other, under the pretext of pursuing the Carthaginian fleet, had been sent far away from Italy; two praetors were occupied in Sicily and Sardinia, neither of which required a praetor at this time; and Marcus Minucius, the master of the horse, had been kept almost under guard, so that he might not see the enemy nor conduct any military operation.
§22.25.7itaque hercule non Samnium modo, quo iam tamquam trans Hiberum agro Poenis concessum sit, sed Campanum Calenumque et Falernum agrum pervastatos esse, sedente Casilini dictatore et legionibus populi Romani agrum suum tutante.
Therefore, by Hercules, not only Samnium, which had already been conceded to the Carthaginians as though it were land beyond the Ebro, but also the Campanian, Calenian, and Falernian territories had been utterly devastated, while the dictator sat idle at Casilinum and protected his own land with the legions of the Roman people.
§22.25.8exercitum cupientem pugnare et magistrum equitum clausos prope intra vallum retentos, tamquam hostibus captivis arma adempta.
The army, which was eager to fight, and the master of the horse had been kept shut up almost within the rampart, as if arms had been taken away from captive enemies.
§22.25.9tandem, ut abscesserit inde dictator, ut obsidione liberatos, extra vallum egressos fudisse ac fugasse hostis.
At last, when the dictator had departed from there, like people freed from a siege, they had gone out beyond the rampart and routed and put the enemy to flight.
§22.25.10quas ob res, si antiquus animus plebei Romanae esset, audaciter se laturum fuisse de abrogando Q. Fabi imperio;
For these reasons, if the ancient spirit belonged to the Roman plebs, he would have boldly brought forward a proposal concerning the abrogation of Q.
nunc modicam rogationem promulgaturum de aequando magistri equitum et dictatoris iure.
Fabius's command; now, he would propose a moderate bill for equalizing the power of the master of the horse and the dictator.
§22.25.11nec tamen ne ita quidem prius mittendum ad exercitum Q. Fabium, quam consulem in locum C. Flamini suffecisset.
Nor, however, even so, should Q. Fabius be sent back to the army before he had substituted a consul in place of C. Flaminius.
§22.25.12dictator contionibus se abstinuit in actione minime popularis.
The dictator kept away from the public assemblies, being by no means popular in his conduct.
ne in senatu quidem satis aequis auribus audiebatur, cum hostem verbis extolleret biennique §22.25.13clades per temeritatem atque inscitiam ducum acceptas referret et magistro equitum, quod contra dictum suum pugnasset, rationem diceret reddendam esse.
Not even in the senate was he listened to with very favorable ears, when he extolled the enemy in his speeches and attributed the disasters of the last two years to the temerity and ignorance of the commanders, and declared that the master of the horse must render an account for having fought contrary to his orders.
§22.25.14si penes se summa imperii consiliique sit, prope diem effecturum, ut sciant homines bono imperatore haud magni fortunam momenti esse, §22.25.15mentem rationemque dominari, et in tempore et sine ignominia servasse exercitum quam multa milia hostium occidisse maiorem gloriam esse.
If the supreme command and policy were in his hands, he would shortly bring it about that men should know that fortune is of no great moment to a good general, but that mind and reason govern, and that to have preserved an army at the proper time and without disgrace was a greater glory than to have slain many thousands of the enemy.
§22.25.16huius generis orationibus frustra habitis et consule creato M. Atilio Regulo, ne praesens de iure imperii dimicaret, pridie quam rogationis ferendae dies adesset, nocte ad exercitum abiit.
Having delivered speeches of this kind in vain, and after Marcus Atilius Regulus was elected consul, so that he might not contend in person concerning the right of command, on the night before the day for proposing the bill, he departed to the army.
§22.25.17luce orta cum. plebis concilium esset, magis tacita invidia dictatoris favorque magistri equitum animos versabat, quam satis audebant homines ad suadendum quod vulgo placebat prodire, et favore superante auctoritas tamen rogationi deerat.
At daybreak, when the council of the plebs met, a silent hatred of the dictator and favor for the master of the horse influenced their minds, rather than that men had sufficient courage to come forward to advocate what pleased the populace; and although favor was overwhelming, authority was nevertheless lacking to the bill.
§22.25.18unus inventus est suasor legis C. Terentius Varro, qui priore anno praetor fuerat, loco non humili solum sed etiam sordido ortus.
Only one advocate of the law was found, Gaius Terentius Varro, who had been praetor the previous year, sprung from a birth not only humble but even sordid.
§22.25.19patrem lanium fuisse: ferunt, ipsum institorem mercis, filioque hoc ipso in servilia eius artis ministeria usum.
They say that his father had been a butcher, a retail dealer in his own goods, and that he had employed this very son in the servile tasks of that trade.