§3.21.1senatus in Capitolio erat; eo tribuni cum perturbata plebe veniunt, multitudo clamore ingenti nunc consulum, nunc patrum fidem inplorant nec ante moverunt de sententia consulem, quam tribuni se in auctoritate patrum futuros esse polliciti sunt.
The senate was on the Capitol; thither the tribunes came with the agitated plebeians, and the multitude with a huge clamor implored now the protection of the consuls, now that of the patricians; nor did they move the consul from his opinion until the tribunes promised that they would submit to the authority of the patricians.
§3.21.2tunc referente consule de tribunorum et plebis postulatis senatus consulta fiunt, ut neque tribuni legem eo anno ferrent neque consules ab urbe exercitum educerent; in reliquum magistratus continuari et eosdem tribunos refici iudicare senatum contra rem publicam esse.
Then, on the consul proposing a motion concerning the demands of the tribunes and the plebs, decrees of the senate were passed, that neither should the tribunes propose their law in that year, nor should the consuls lead the army out of the city; and that for the future, the continuation of magistracies and the re-election of the same tribunes was judged by the senate to be contrary to the interest of the republic.
consules fuere in patrum potestate; §3.21.3tribuni reclamantibus consulibus refecti.
The consuls submitted to the authority of the patricians; the tribunes, despite the protests of the consuls, were re-elected.
patres quoque, ne quid cederent plebi, et ipsi L. Quinctium consulem reficiebant.
The patricians also, lest they should yield anything to the plebs, were themselves for re-electing Lucius Quinctius as consul.
nulla toto anno vehementior actio consulis fuit. “mirer” inquit, §3.21.4“si vana vestra, patres conscripti, auctoritas ad plebem est? vos elevatis eam;
No action of the consul during the whole year was more vehement. “Should I wonder,” he said, “if your authority, conscript fathers, is of no weight with the plebs?
quippe, quia plebs senatus consultum in continuandis magistratibus solvit, ipsi quoque solutum vultis, ne temeritati multitudinis cedatis.
You yourselves diminish it; because indeed, since the plebs has broken the decree of the senate regarding the continuation of magistracies, you also wish it to be broken, lest you should yield to the rashness of the multitude.
§3.21.5tamquam id sit plus posse in civitate plus levitatis ac licentiae habere.
As if to have more power in the state were to have more levity and license.
levius enim vaniusque profecto est sua decreta et consulta tollere quam aliorum.
For it is indeed lighter and more futile to abolish one's own decrees and decisions than those of others.
§3.21.6imitamini, patres conscripti, turbam inconsultam et, qui exemplo aliis esse debetis, aliorum exemplo peccate potius, quam alii vestro recte faciant, dum ego ne imiter tribunos nec me contra senatus consultum consulem renuntiari patiar.
Imitate, conscript fathers, the thoughtless crowd, and you who ought to be an example to others, sin rather by the example of others than let others act rightly by yours, as long as I do not imitate the tribunes nor suffer myself to be declared consul contrary to the decree of the senate.
§3.21.7te vero, C. Claudi, adhortor, ut et ipse populum Romanum hac licentia arceas et de me hoc tibi persuadeas, me ita accepturum, ut non honorem meum a te impeditum, sed gloriam spreti honoris auctam invidiamque, quae ex continuato eo inpenderet, levatam putem. ” §3.21.8communiter inde edicunt, ne quis L. Quinctium consulem faceret; si quis fecisset, se id suffragium non observaturos.
Indeed, I exhort you, Gaius Claudius, that you yourself also restrain the Roman people from this license, and persuade yourself of this concerning me, that I shall receive it in such a manner that I shall not think my honor has been hindered by you, but that the glory of having rejected honor has been increased, and the envy which would hang over me from its continuation has been lightened.” Thereupon they jointly issued an edict that no one should make Lucius Quinctius consul; and if anyone should do so, they would not recognize that vote.