§3.25.1L. Minucius inde et C. Nautius consules facti duas residuas anni prioris causas exceperunt.
Lucius Minucius and Gaius Nautius were then elected consuls and took up the two remaining issues of the previous year.
§3.25.2eodem modo consules legem, tribuni iudicium de Volscio inpediebant; §3.25.3sed in quaestoribus novis maior vis, maior auctoritas erat.
In the same manner, the consuls obstructed the law, and the tribunes obstructed the trial of Volscius; but in the new quaestors there was greater power and greater authority.
cum M. Valerio, Mani filio, Volesi nepote, quaestor erat T. Quinctius Capitolinus, qui ter consul fuerat.
Along with Marcus Valerius, son of Manius, grandson of Volesus, Titus Quinctius Capitolinus, who had been consul three times, was quaestor.
is quoniam neque Quinctiae familiae Caeso neque rei publicae maximus iuvenum restitui posset, falsum testem, qui dicendae causae innoxio potestatem ademisset, iusto ac pio bello persequebatur.
Since neither could Caeso be restored to the Quinctian family nor the greatest of young men to the republic, he pursued with a just and dutiful war the false witness who had deprived an innocent man of the opportunity of pleading his cause.
§3.25.4cum Verginius maxime ex tribunis de lege ageret, duum mensum spatium consulibus datum est ad inspiciendam legem, ut, cum edocuissent populum, quid fraudis occultae ferretur, sinerent deinde suffragium inire.
While Verginius among the tribunes was most active concerning the law, a space of two months was granted to the consuls for examining the law, so that, when they had fully explained to the people what hidden fraud was carried in it, they might then allow them to proceed to vote.
hoc intervalli datum res tranquillas in urbe fecit.
This interval being granted made things quiet in the city.
§3.25.5nec diuturnam quietem Aequi dederunt, qui rupto foedere, quod ictum erat priore anno cum Romanis, imperium ad Gracchum Cloelium deferunt; is tum longe princeps in Aequis erat.
Nor did the Aequi grant a lasting peace; breaking the treaty which had been concluded with the Romans in the previous year, they conferred the command upon Gracchus Cloelius, who was then by far the leading man among the Aequi.
§3.25.6Graccho duce in Labicanum agrum, inde in Tusculanum hostili populatione veniunt plenique praedae in Algido castra locant.
Under the leadership of Gracchus, they entered the Labican territory, and thence the Tusculan territory with hostile devastation, and, full of plunder, pitched their camp on Mount Algidus.
in ea castra Q. Fabius, P. Volumnius, A. Postumius legati ab Roma venerunt questum iniurias et ex foedere res repetitum.
To that camp came Quintus Fabius, Publius Volumnius, and Aulus Postumius as ambassadors from Rome, to complain of the injuries and to demand restitution according to the treaty.
eos Aequorum imperator, §3.25.7quae mandata habeant ab senatu Romano, ad quercum iubet dicere; §3.25.8se alia interim acturum.
The general of the Aequi ordered them to deliver to the oak tree what instructions they had from the Roman senate, saying that he meanwhile would attend to other matters.
quercus, ingens arbor, praetorio imminebat, cuius umbra opaca sedes erat.
The oak, a huge tree, overhung the general's tent, and its thick shade formed a seat.
tum ex legatis unus abiens “et haec” inquit “sacrata quercus et quidquid deorum est audiant foedus a vobis ruptum nostrisque et nunc querellis adsint et mox armis, cum deorum hominumque simul violata iura exsequemur. ” Romam ut rediere legati, §3.25.9senatus iussit alterum consulem contra Gracchum in Algidum exercitum ducere, alteri populationem finium Aequorum provinciam dedit.
Then one of the ambassadors, as he was departing, said, "Let both this sacred oak and whatever there is of gods hear that the treaty has been broken by you, and let them be present now to our complaints, and soon to our arms, when we shall avenge the violated laws of both gods and men." When the ambassadors returned to Rome, the senate ordered one consul to lead an army to Mount Algidus against Gracchus, and gave to the other the devastation of the territory of the Aequi as his province.
tribuni suo more impedire dilectum et forsitan ad ultimum impedissent; sed novus subito additus terror est.
The tribunes, in their usual manner, obstructed the levy, and perhaps would have obstructed it to the end; but a new terror was suddenly added.