§4.45.1annus felicitate populi Romani periculo potius ingenti quam clade insignis.
This was a year remarkable for a huge danger rather than for a disaster, thanks to the good fortune of the Roman people.
servitia, urbem ut incenderent distantibus locis, coniurarunt, populoque ad opem passim ferendam tectis intento ut arcem Capitoliumque armati occuparent. §4.45.2avertit nefanda consilia Iuppiter, indicioque duorum conprehensi sontes poenas dederunt.
The slaves conspired to set fire to the city in scattered places, so that, while the populace was distracted everywhere in bringing help to their homes, they might arm themselves and seize the citadel and the Capitol. Jupiter averted these abominable designs, and, upon the disclosure of two of them, the guilty were arrested and paid the penalty.
indicibus dena milia gravis aeris, quae tum divitiae habebantur, ex aerario numerata et libertas praemium fuit.
Ten thousand heavy copper asses—which was then considered great wealth—were paid to each of the informants from the treasury, and freedom was given to them as a reward.
bellum inde ab Aequis reparari coeptum; §4.45.3et novos hostes Labicanos consilia cum veteribus iungere haud incertis auctoribus Romam est allatum. §4.45.4Aequorum iam velut anniversariis armis adsueverat civitas;
After this, war began to be renewed by the Aequi; and it was reported to Rome on reliable authority that a new enemy, the Labicans, were joining in counsels with the old. The state was already accustomed to what might be called the annual arms of the Aequi.
Labicos legati missi cum responsa inde rettulissent dubia, quibus nec tum bellum parari nec diuturnam pacem fore appareret, Tusculanis negotium datum, adverterent animos, ne quid novi tumultus Labicis oreretur. §4.45.5ad insequentis anni tribunos militum consulari potestate inito magistratu legati ab Tusculo venerunt, L. Sergium Fidenatem, M. Papirium Mugilanum, C. Servilium Prisci filium, quo dictatore Fidenae captae fuerant. §4.45.6nuntiabant legati Labicanos arma cepisse et cum Aequorum exercitu depopulatos agrum Tusculanum castra in Algido posuisse. §4.45.7tum Labicanis bellum indictum; factoque senatus consulto, ut duo ex tribunis ad bellum proficiscerentur, unus res Romae curaret, certamen subito inter tribunos exortum; se quisque belli ducem potiorem ferre, curam urbis ut ingratam ignobilemque aspernari. §4.45.8cum parum decorum inter collegas certamen mirabundi patres conspicerent, Q. Servilius “quando nec ordinis huius ulla” inquit “nec rei publicae est verecundia, patria maiestas altercationem istam dirimet: filius meus extra sortem urbi praeerit.
When envoys sent to Labici brought back ambiguous answers from there, by which it appeared that war was not being prepared at that time but that there would not be a lasting peace, the Tusculans were given the task of turning their attention to prevent any new disturbance from arising at Labici. Immediately upon the entry into office of the military tribunes with consular power for the following year—Lucius Sergius Fidenas, Marcus Papirius Mugilanus, and Gaius Servilius, the son of Priscus, during whose dictatorship Fidenae had been captured—envoys arrived from Tusculum. The envoys reported that the Labicans had taken up arms and, having ravaged the Tusculan territory with the army of the Aequi, had pitched their camp on Mount Algidus. Then war was declared against the Labicans; and a decree of the senate having been passed that two of the tribunes should set out for the war, and one should manage affairs at Rome, a dispute suddenly arose among the tribunes, each declaring himself to be the preferable leader for the war, and rejecting the care of the city as thankless and inglorious. While the patricians were watching with astonishment this unseemly dispute among colleagues, Quintus Servilius said: "Since there is respect neither for this order nor for the commonwealth, fatherly authority shall end that altercation of yours: my son, without drawing lots, shall have charge of the city.
bellum utinam, qui adpetunt, consideratius concordiusque, quam cupiunt, gerant. ”
I only pray that those who seek the war may conduct it with more prudence and harmony than they show eagerness for it."