§4.26.1tumultus causa fuit, quem ab Aequis et Volscis Latini atque Hernici nuntiarant.
The impending war, which the Latins and Hernici had reported from the side of the Aequi and Volsci, was the cause (for holding elections).
§4.26.2T. Quinctius Luci filius Cincinnatus — eidem et Poeno cognomen additur — et Cn. Iulius Mento consules facti.
Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus, son of Lucius—to whom the cognomen Poenus is also added—and Gnaeus Julius Mento were made consuls.
nec ultra terror belli est dilatus.
Nor was the terror of war delayed any further.
§4.26.3lege sacrata, quae maxima apud eos vis cogendae militiae erat, dilectu habito utrimque validi exercitus profecti in Algidum convenere ibique seorsum Aequi,
A levy having been held under the sacred law, which was the greatest force among them for compelling military service, powerful armies set out from both sides and assembled on Mount Algidus; and there, the Aequi separately, and the Volsci separately, fortified their camps.
§4.26.4seorsum Volsci castra communivere, intentiorque quam umquam ante muniendi exercendique militem cura ducibus erat.
The generals had a more intense care than ever before for fortifying the camp and training the soldiers.
§4.26.5eo plus nuntii terroris Romam attulere.
On this account, the messengers brought even more terror to Rome.
senatui dictatorem dici placuit, quia etsi saepe victi populi maiore tamen conatu quam alias umquam rebellarant et aliquantum Romanae iuventutis morbo absumptum erat.
It pleased the senate that a dictator should be named, because the peoples, although often defeated, had nevertheless rebelled with a greater effort than at any other time, and a considerable part of the Roman youth had been carried off by the disease.
§4.26.6ante omnia pravitas consulum discordiaque inter ipsos et certamina in consiliis omnibus terrebant.
Above all, the unfitness of the consuls, their discord with one another, and their contentions in all councils were terrifying.
sunt qui male pugnatum ab his consulibus in Algido auctores sint eamque causam dictatoris creandi fuisse.
There are those who are authorities that a bad battle was fought by these consuls on Algidus, and that this was the cause of creating a dictator.
§4.26.7illud satis constat, ad alia discordes in uno adversus patrum voluntatem consensisse, ne dicerent dictatorem, donec, cum alia aliis terribiliora adferrentur nec in auctoritate senatus consules essent, Q. Servilius Priscus summis honoribus egregie usus “vos” inquit, “tribuni plebis, §4.26.8quoniam ad extrema ventum est, senatus appellat, ut in tanto discrimine rei publicae dictatorem dicere consules pro potestate vestra cogatis. ” §4.26.9qua voce audita occasionem oblatam rati tribuni augendae potestatis secedunt proque collegio pronuntiant placere consules senatui dicto audientes esse; si adversus consensum amplissimi ordinis ultra tendant, in vincla se duci eos iussuros.
This is sufficiently well established: though discordant on other matters, they agreed on one thing against the will of the patricians, namely, not to name a dictator, until, while one terrifying news after another was brought and the consuls were not under the authority of the senate, Quintus Servilius Priscus, having excellently held the highest honors, said: "You, tribunes of the plebs, since things have come to the extreme, the senate appeals to you, so that in such a great crisis of the republic you may compel the consuls by your power to name a dictator." Having heard this speech, the tribunes, thinking that an opportunity was offered to increase their power, withdrew, and on behalf of their college declared that it was pleasing that the consuls should be obedient to the word of the senate; if they should strive further against the consensus of the most honorable order, they would order them to be led into chains.
§4.26.10consules ab tribunis quam ab senatu vinci maluerunt proditum a patribus summi imperiiius datumque sub iugum tribuniciae potestati consulatum memorantes, si quidem cogi aliquid pro potestate ab tribuno consules et — quo quid ulterius privato timendum foret? — in vincla etiam duci possent.
The consuls preferred to be conquered by the tribunes rather than by the senate, complaining that the right of supreme power had been betrayed by the patricians and the consulship had been sent under the yoke of the tribunician power, if indeed consuls could be compelled in anything by a tribune by virtue of his power and—what further would a private citizen have to fear?—even led into chains.
§4.26.11sors, ut dictatorem diceret — nam ne id quidem inter collegas convenerat, T. Quinctio evenit.
The lot to name a dictator—for not even this had been agreed upon between the colleagues—fell to Titus Quinctius.
is A. Postumium Tubertum, socerum suum, severissimi imperii virum, dictatorem dixit; ab eo L. Iulius magister equitum est dictus.
He named Aulus Postumius Tubertus, his father-in-law, a man of most severe authority, as dictator; by him, Lucius Julius was named master of the horse.
§4.26.12dilectus simul edicitur et iustitium, neque aliud tota urbe agi quam bellum apparari.
At the same time, a levy and a cessation of public business were proclaimed, and nothing else was done in the whole city than preparing for war.
cognitio vacantium militiae munere post bellum differtur.
The hearing of those seeking exemption from military service was postponed until after the war.
ita dubii quoque inclinant ad nomina danda.
Thus, those who had been hesitant also inclined to give their names.
et Hernicis Latinisque milites imperati; utrimque enixe oboeditum dictatori est.
Soldiers were also demanded from the Hernici and Latins; on both sides, the dictator was zealously obeyed.