§3.17.1postquam arma poni et discedere homines ab stationibus nuntiatum est, P. Valerius collega senatum retinente se ex curia proripit, inde in templum ad tribunos venit.
When it was reported that arms were being laid down and men were departing from their posts, Publius Valerius, while his colleague held the senate, rushed out of the Curia and then went to the temple to the tribunes.
§3.17.2“quid hoc rei est” inquit, “tribuni? Appi Herdonii ductu et auspicio rem publicam eversuri estis? tam felix vobis corrumpendis fruit, qui servitia non commovit auctor? cum hostes supra caput sint, discedi ab armis legesque ferri placet?” §3.17.3inde ad multitudinem oratione versa: “si vos urbis, Quirites, si vestri nulla cura tangit, at vos veremini deos vestros ab hostibus captos.
"What is this business, tribunes?" he said. "Are you going to overthrow the commonwealth under the leadership and auspices of Appius Herdonius? Was that author of the plot, who did not stir up the slaves, so successful in corrupting you? When the enemy is over your heads, does it please you to depart from arms and to propose laws?" Then, turning his speech to the multitude, he said: "If no care for the city, Quirites, if no care for yourselves touches you, at least revere your gods who have been captured by the enemy.
Iuppiter optimus maximus, Iuno regina et Minerva, alii dii deaeque obsidentur; castra servorum publicos vestros penates tenent;
Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Queen Juno, and Minerva, and other gods and goddesses are besieged; the camp of slaves holds your public Penates.
§3.17.4haec vobis forma sanae civitatis videtur? tantum hostium non solum intra muros est, sed in arce, supra forum curiamque; comitia interim in foro sunt, senatus in curia est; velut cum otium superat, senator sententiam dicit, alii Quirites suffragium ineunt.
Does this seem to you the form of a healthy state? So many enemies are not only within the walls, but on the citadel, above the forum and the senate-house; meanwhile, assemblies are in the forum, the senate is in the senate-house; just as when peace abounds, a senator delivers his opinion, and other Quirites cast their votes.
§3.17.5non quidquid patrum plebisque est, consules, tribunos, deos hominesque omnes armatos opem ferre, in Capitolium currere, liberare ac pacare augustissimam illam domum Iovis optimi maximi decuit?
Was it not fitting for all that there is of patricians and plebeians, consuls, tribunes, and all gods and men to bring armed aid, to run to the Capitol, and to liberate and pacify that most august home of Jupiter Optimus Maximus?
§3.17.6Romule pater, tu mentem tuam, qua quondam arcem ab his iisdem Sabinis auro captam recepisti, da stirpi tuae; iube hanc ingredi viam, quam tu dux, quam tuus ingressus exercitus est! primus en ego consul, quantum mortalis deum possum, te ac tua vestigia sequar. ” §3.17.7ultimum orationis fuit: se arma capere, vocare omnes Quirites ad arma.
Father Romulus, grant to your offspring that mind with which you once recovered the citadel, which had been captured with gold by these same Sabines; command them to enter upon this path which you as leader, and which your army entered! Behold, I first as consul, as far as a mortal can follow a god, will follow you and your footsteps." The end of his speech was this: that he was taking up arms and calling all Quirites to arms.
si qui inpediat, iam se consularis imperii, iam tribuniciae potestatis sacratarumque legum oblitum, quisquis ille sit, ubicumque sit, in Capitolio, in foro, pro hoste habiturum.
If anyone should impede, he, now forgetting the consular power, now forgetting the tribunician power and the sacred laws, whoever he might be and wherever he might be, whether on the Capitol or in the forum, would treat him as an enemy.
iuberent tribuni, §3.17.8quoniam in Appi Herdonium vetarent, in P. Valerium consulem sumi arma; ausurum se in tribunis, quod princeps familiae suae ausus in regibus esset.
Let the tribunes command, since they forbade taking up arms against Appius Herdonius, that arms be taken up against Publius Valerius the consul; he would dare against the tribunes what the founder of his family had dared against kings.
§3.17.9uim ultimam apparebat futuram spectaculoque seditionem Romanam hostibus fore.
It was clear that extreme violence would occur and that the Roman sedition would be a spectacle for the enemy.
nec lex tamen ferri nec ire in Capitolium consul potuit.
However, neither could the law be passed, nor could the consul go to the Capitol.
nox certamina coepta oppressit.
Night overwhelmed the begun contests.
tribuni cessere nocti timentes consulum arma.
The tribunes yielded to the night, fearing the arms of the consuls.
§3.17.10amotis inde seditionis auctoribus patres circumire plebem inserentesque se in circulos sermones tempori aptos serere, admonere, ut viderent, in quod discrimen rem publicam adducerent: §3.17.11non inter patres ac plebem certamen esse, sed simul patres plebemque, arcem urbis, templa deorum, penates publicos privatosque hostibus dedi.
After the authors of the sedition were removed from there, the senators went around among the plebs and, inserting themselves into circles, sowed speeches suited to the occasion, warning them to see into what a hazard they were bringing the commonwealth: that the contest was not between patricians and plebeians, but that patricians and plebeians alike, the citadel of the city, the temples of the gods, and the public and private Penates were being handed over to the enemy.
§3.17.12dum haec in foro sedandae discordiae causa aguntur, consules interim, ne Sabini neve Veiens hostis moveretur, circa portas murosque discesserant.
While these things were being done in the forum for the sake of calming the discord, the consuls meanwhile, lest the Sabine or Veientine enemy should move, had dispersed around the gates and walls.