§4.40.1iam eo fama pugnae adversae castrorumque desertorum perlata erat, et ante omnia deplorati erant equites non privato magis quam publico luctu, §4.40.2Fabiusque consul terrore urbi quoque iniecto stationem ante portas agebat, cum equites procul visi non sine terrore ab dubiis, quinam essent, mox cogniti tantam ex metu laetitiam fecere, ut clamor urbem pervaderet gratulantium salvos victoresque redisse equites et ex maestis paulo ante domibus, §4.40.3quae conclamaverant suos, procurreretur in vias pavidaeque matres ac coniuges oblitae prae gaudio decoris obviam agmini occurrerent in suos quaeque simul corpore atque animo, vix prae gaudio compotes, effusae.
Already the report of the adverse battle and of the abandoned camp had been brought thither, and above all, the cavalry were lamented with a grief that was public even more than private, and the consul Fabius, terror having been struck into the city also, was keeping guard before the gates, when the cavalry, seen from afar not without terror by those who were doubtful of who they were, were soon recognized, and produced such great joy after fear, so that a shout pervaded the city of those congratulating that the cavalry had returned safe and victorious, and from the houses that were sad shortly before, which had lamented their own dead, there was a rushing out into the streets, and terrified mothers and wives, forgetting their propriety on account of joy, ran to meet the column, each throwing herself upon her own, with body and mind alike, scarcely in possession of her senses on account of joy.
Tribunis plebi, §4.40.4qui M. Postumio et T. Quinctio diem dixerant, quod ad Veios eorum opera male pugnatum esset, occasio visa est per recens odium Semproni consulis renovandae in eos invidiae.
To the tribunes of the plebs, who had appointed a day of trial for Marcus Postumius and Titus Quinctius, because by their agency the battle had been fought badly at Veii, an opportunity seemed presented, through the fresh hatred for the consul Sempronius, of renewing the unpopularity against them.
§4.40.5itaque advocata contione cum proditam Veis rem publicam esse ab ducibus, proditum deinde, quia illis inpune fuerit, in Volscis ab consule exercitum, traditos ad caedem fortissimos equites, deserta foede castra vociferati essent, §4.40.6C. Iunius unus ex tribunis Tempanium equitem vocari iussit coramque ei “Sex. Tempani” inquit, “quaero de te, arbitrerisne C. Sempronium consulem aut in tempore pugnam inisse aut firmasse subsidiis aciem aut ullo boni consulis functum officio et tune ipse victis legionibus Romanis tuo consilio equitem ad pedes deduxeris restituerisque pugnam; §4.40.7excluso deinde ab acie nostra tibi atque equitibus num aut consul ipse subvenerit aut miserit praesidium; §4.40.8postero denique die ecquid praesidii usquam habueris, an tu cohorsque in castra vestra virtute perruperitis; ecquem in castris consulem, ecquem exercitum inveneritis, an deserta castra, relictos saucios milites.
Therefore, having summoned an assembly, when they had cried out that the commonwealth had been betrayed at Veii by the generals, and next, because those men had gone unpunished, the army had been betrayed among the Volscians by the consul, the bravest cavalry delivered up to slaughter, and the camp shamefully deserted, Gaius Junius, one of the tribunes, ordered the cavalryman Tempanius to be called, and in his presence said to him: 'Sextus Tempanius, I ask of you whether you think that the consul Gaius Sempronius either entered the battle in due time, or strengthened the battle line with reserves, or performed any duty of a good consul; and whether you yourself, when the Roman legions were defeated, by your own counsel made the cavalry dismount and restored the battle; and furthermore, when you and the cavalry were cut off from our army, whether the consul himself came to the aid of you, who were cut off, and the cavalry, or sent any reinforcement; and finally, on the following day, whether you had any protection anywhere, or whether you and your cohort broke through into the camp by your own valor; whether you found any consul or any army in the camp, or rather a deserted camp and abandoned wounded soldiers.
§4.40.9haec pro virtute tua fideque, qua una hoc bello res publica stetit, dicenda tibi sunt hodie; denique ubi C. Sempronius, ubi legiones nostrae sint; desertus sis an deserueris consulem exercitumque; victi denique simus an vicerimus. ”
These things must be declared by you today, in accordance with your valor and loyalty, by which alone in this war the republic has stood; and finally, where Gaius Sempronius, where our legions are; whether you were deserted, or you deserted the consul and the army; and lastly, whether we are defeated or we have conquered.'