§26.22.1consules cum ambo Apuliam provinciam haberent, minusque iam terroris a Poenis et Hannibale esset, sortiri iussi Apuliam Macedoniamque provincias.
Since both consuls had the province of Apulia, and there was now less terror from the Carthaginians and Hannibal, they were ordered to draw lots for the provinces of Apulia and Macedonia.
Sulpicio Macedonia evenit, isque Laevino successit.
Macedonia fell to Sulpicius, and he succeeded Laevinus.
§26.22.2Fulvius Romam comitiorum causa arcessitus cum comitia consulibus rogandis haberet, praerogativa Uoturia iuniorum T. Manlium Torquatum et T. Otacilium absentem consoles dixit.
Fulvius, having been summoned to Rome for the sake of the elections, when he was holding the assembly for electing consuls, the first-voting century of the Voturia juniors declared Titus Manlius Torquatus and Titus Otacilius, who was absent, consuls.
§26.22.3cum ad lManlium, qui praesens erat, gratulandi causa turba coiret, nec dubius esset consensus populi, magna circumfusus turba ad tribunal consulis venit petitque, §26.22.4ut pauca sua verba audiret centuriamque, quae tulisset suffragium, revocari iuberet.
When a crowd gathered to congratulate Manlius, who was present, and the consensus of the people was not in doubt, surrounded by a large crowd, he came to the tribunal of the consul and requested that he would listen to a few words of his and order the century, which had cast its vote, to be recalled.
§26.22.5erectis omnibus expectatione, quidnam postulaturus esset, oculorum valetudinem excusavit: impudentem et gubernatorem et imperatorem esse, §26.22.6qui cum alienis oculis ei omnia agenda sint, postulet sibi aliorum capita ac fortunas committi.
While everyone was excited with expectation of what he was going to ask, he excused himself on account of the weakness of his eyes: that both a helmsman and a general are impudent, who, since he has to do everything with the eyes of others, requests that the lives and fortunes of others be committed to him.
§26.22.7proinde, si videretur ei, redire in suffragium Uoturiam iuniorum iuberet et meminisse in consulibus creandis belli, quod in Italia sit, temporumque rei publicae.
Therefore, if it seemed good to him, he should order the Voturia juniors to go back to vote, and to remember, in electing consuls, the war which was in Italy, and the times of the republic.
§26.22.8vixdum requiesse auris a strepitu et tumultu hostili, quo paucos ante menses invaserint prope moenia Romana. post haec cum centuria frequens succlamasset nihil se mutare sententiae eosdemque consules dicturos esse, §26.22.9tum Torquatus “neque ego vestros” inquit “mores consul ferre potero, neque vos imperium meum.
"Our ears have scarcely rested from the noise and tumult of the enemy, with which they invaded near the Roman walls a few months ago." After this, when the century, crowded together, had cried out that they would change nothing of their opinion and would declare the same men consuls, then Torquatus said, "Neither shall I, as consul, be able to bear your manners, nor will you bear my command.
redite in suffragium et cogitate bellum Punicum in Italia et hostium ducem Hannibalem esse. ” §26.22.10tum centuria et auctoritate mota viri et admirantium circa fremitu petiit a consule, ut Uoturiam seniorum citaret: §26.22.11velle sese cum maioribus natu conloqui et ex auctoritate eorum consules dicere.
Go back to vote, and reflect that there is a Punic war in Italy, and that the leader of the enemy is Hannibal." Then the century, moved both by the authority of the man and by the murmur of those admiring around, requested the consul to summon the Voturia seniors: they wished to confer with their elders and, by their authority, to declare the consuls.
citatis Uoturiae senioribus datum secreto in Ovili cum iis conloquendi tempus.
The seniors of the Voturia having been summoned, time was given to confer with them in secret in the Ovile.
§26.22.12seniores de tribus consulendum dixerunt esse, duobus plenis iam honoran, Q. Fabio et M. Marcello, et, si utique novum aliquem adversus Poenos consulem creari vellent, M. Valerio Laevino: egregie adversus Philippum regem terra marique rem gessisse.
The seniors said that deliberation should be had concerning three men, two already full of honors, Quintus Fabius and Marcus Marcellus, and, if they absolutely wished some new consul to be elected against the Carthaginians, Marcus Valerius Laevinus, who had conducted affairs excellently against King Philip by land and sea.
§26.22.13ita de tribus consultatione data senioribus dimissis iuniores suffragium ineunt.
Thus, consultation concerning the three having been given, and the seniors dismissed, the juniors entered upon the voting.
M. Claudium fulgentem tum Sicilia domita et M. Valerium absentis consules dixerunt.
They declared Marcus Claudius, then brilliant with the conquest of Sicily, and the absent Marcus Valerius, consuls.
auctoritatem praerogativae omnes centuriae secutae sunt.
All the centuries followed the authority of the first-voting century.
§26.22.14eludant nunc antiqua mirantis: non equidem, si qua sit sapientium civitas, quam docti fingunt magis quam norunt, aut principes graviores temperantioresque a cupidine imperii aut multitudinem melius moratam censeam fieri posse.
Let those who mock the admirers of antiquity mock now: indeed, if there were any state of wise men, which learned men imagine rather than know, I would not think that either the leaders could be more grave and moderate from the desire for power, or the multitude better-mannered.
§26.22.15centuriam vero iuniorum seniores consulere voluisse, quibus imperium suffragio mandaret, vix ut veri simile sit, parentium quoque hoc saeculo vilis levisque apud liberos auctoritas fecit.
Indeed, that a century of juniors wished to consult the seniors as to whom they should entrust command by their vote, is scarcely to be believed, which the cheap and light authority of parents among children has made so in this generation.