§3.39.1sed magis oboedienter ventum in curiam esse quam obnoxie dictas sententias accepimus.
But we have received [the tradition] that they came into the curia more out of obedience than that they expressed their opinions in a subservient manner.
§3.39.2L. Valerium Potitum proditum memoriae est post relationem Ap. Claudii, priusquam ordine sententiae rogarentur, postulando, ut de re publica liceret dicere, prohibentibus minaciter decemviris proditurum se ad plebem denuntiantem tumultum excivisse.
It is recorded that Lucius Valerius Potitus, after the proposal of Appius Claudius and before opinions were asked in order, caused a tumult by demanding that it be permitted to speak on the state of the republic, and, when the decemvirs threateningly forbade it, declaring that he would go before the plebs.
§3.39.3nec minus ferociter M. Horatium Barbatum isse in certamen decem Tarquinios appellantem admonentemque Valeriis et Horatiis ducibus pulsos reges.
And [it is recorded] that Marcus Horatius Barbatus entered the contest no less fiercely, calling them ten Tarquins and reminding them that the kings had been expelled under the leadership of Valerii and Horatii.
§3.39.4nec nominis homines tum pertaesum esse, quippe quo Iovem appellari fas sit, quo Romulum, conditorem urbis, deincepsque reges, quod sacris etiam ut sollemne retentum sit; §3.39.5superbiam violentiamque tum perosos regis.
And that men at that time had not been weary of the name [of king], since it was lawful for Jupiter to be called by it, as well as Romulus, the founder of the city, and the subsequent kings, and because it had been retained as a solemn rite even in sacred ceremonies; but they had detested the pride and violence of the king.
quae si in rege tum * eodem aut in filio regis ferenda non fuerint, quem laturum in tot privatis?
And if those things were not to be endured then in the king himself or in the king's son, who would endure them in so many private citizens?
§3.39.6viderent, ne vetando in curia libere homines loqui extra curiam etiam moverent vocem.
Let them see to it lest, by forbidding men to speak freely in the curia, they should provoke voices even outside the curia.
neque se videre, qui sibi minus privato ad contionem populum vocare quam illis senatum cogere liceat.
Nor did he see how it was any less permitted for himself, a private citizen, to call the people to an assembly, than for them to assemble the senate.
§3.39.7ubi vellent, experirentur, quanto fortior dolor in libertate sua vindicanda quam cupiditas in iniusta dominatione esset.
Let them try, whenever they wished, how much stronger was the resentment in defending one's liberty than the desire in unjust domination.
§3.39.8de bello Sabino eos referre, tamquam maius ullum populo Romano bellum sit quam cum iis, qui legum ferendarum causa creati nihil iuris in civitate reliquerint, qui comitia, qui annuos magistratus, qui vicissitudinem imperitandi, quod unum exaequandae sit libertatis, sustulerint, qui privati fasces et regium imperium habeant.
They were making a motion about the Sabine war, as if there were any greater war for the Roman people than with those who, created for the purpose of proposing laws, had left no right in the state; who had abolished the comitia, the annual magistrates, and the alternation of command—which is the sole means of equalizing liberty; and who, as private citizens, held the fasces and regal authority.
§3.39.9fuisse regibus exactis patricios magistratus, creatos postea post secessionem plebis plebeios: cuius illi partis essent, rogitare.
He repeatedly asked which party they belonged to. Had there been patrician magistrates after the expulsion of the kings, and later plebeian ones created after the secession of the plebs?
populares? quid enim eos per populum egisse? optimates? qui anno iam prope senatum non habuerint, nunc ita habeant, at de re publica loqui prohibeant?
Were they 'populares' (democrats)? For what had they done through the people? Were they 'optimates' (aristocrats)? Who for nearly a year now had not held a senate, and now held it in such a way as to forbid speaking about the state of the republic?
§3.39.10ne nimium in metu alieno spei ponerent; graviora quae patiantur videri iam hominibus, quam quae metuant.
Let them not place too much hope in the fear of others; the things which men were now suffering seemed heavier to them than those which they feared.