§4.53.1M. Aemilio, C. Valerio Potito consulibus bellum Aequi parabant, Volscis quamquam non publico consilio capessentibus arma, voluntariis mercede secutis militiam.
In the consulship of Marcus Aemilius and Gaius Valerius Potitus, the Aequi were preparing for war, while the Volsci, although not by public decision, took up arms, with volunteers following the campaign for pay.
§4.53.2ad quorum famam hostium — iam enim in Latinum Hernicumque transcenderant agrum — dilectum habentem Valerium consulem M. Menenius tribunus plebis, legis agrariae lator, cum inpediret auxilioque tribuni nemo invitus sacramento diceret, §4.53.3repente nuntiatur arcem Caruentanam ab hostibus occupatam esse.
At the report of these enemies—for they had already crossed into the Latin and Hernican territory—while the consul Valerius was holding a levy, Marcus Menenius, a tribune of the plebs and proposer of the agrarian law, obstructed him, and because of the tribune's assistance no one took the military oath against his will, suddenly it was reported that the citadel of Carventum had been seized by the enemy.
§4.53.4ea ignominia accepta cum apud patres invidiae Menenio fuit, tum ceteris tribunis, iam ante praeparatis intercessoribus legis agrariae, praebuit iustiorem causam resistendi collegae.
This disgrace having been received, it not only brought hatred upon Menenius among the patricians, but also provided the other tribunes, who had already been prepared beforehand to veto the agrarian law, with a more justifiable cause for resisting their colleague.
§4.53.5itaque cum res diu ducta per altercationem esset, consulibus deos hominesque testantibus, quidquid ab hostibus cladis ignominiaeque aut iam acceptum esset aut inmineret, culpam penes Menenium fore, qui dilectum impediret, Menenio contra vociferante, §4.53.6si iniusti domini possessione agri publici cederent, se moram dilectui non facere, decreto interposito novem tribuni sustulerunt certamen §4.53.7pronuntiaveruntque ex collegii sententia C. Valerio consuli se, damnum aliamque coercitionem adversus intercessionem collegae dilectus causa detractantibus militiam 7inhibenti, auxilio futuros esse.
Therefore, when the matter had been prolonged for a long time by altercation, with the consuls calling gods and men to witness that whatever disaster or disgrace had either already been received from the enemy or was impending, the blame would lie with Menenius, who was obstructing the levy, while Menenius on the other hand cried out that if the unjust owners would withdraw from the possession of the public land, he would place no delay upon the levy, the nine tribunes, by interposing a decree, ended the contest and declared, according to the opinion of the college, that they would assist the consul Gaius Valerius against the veto of their colleague, in enforcing fines and other coercion upon those who refused military service on account of the levy.
§4.53.8hoc decreto consul armatus cum paucis appellantibus tribunum collum torsisset, metu ceteri sacramento dixere.
Backed by this decree, when the consul had seized by the neck a few who appealed to the tribune, the rest took the oath out of fear.
ductus exercitus ad Caruentanam arcem, §4.53.9quamquam invisus infestusque consuli erat, inpigre primo statim adventu deiectis, qui in praesidio erant, arcem recipit;
The army was led to the citadel of Carventum, which, although hateful and hostile to the consul, it recovered at its very first arrival, vigorously throwing down those who were in the garrison.
§4.53.10praedatores ex praesidio per neglegentiam dilapsi occasionem aperuere ad invadendum.
Plunderers who had slipped away from the garrison through negligence opened an opportunity for the attack.
praedae ex adsiduis populationibus, quod omnia in locum tutum congesta erant, fuit aliquantum.
The booty from continuous pillaging was considerable, because everything had been gathered into a secure place.
venditum sub hasta consul in aerarium redigere quaestores iussit tum praedicans participem praedae fore exercitum, cum militiam non abnuisset.
The consul ordered the quaestors to deposit the proceeds from the auction into the treasury, declaring at that time that the army would share in the booty only when it had not refused military service.
§4.53.11auctae inde plebis ac militum in consulem irae.
Hence the anger of the plebs and the soldiers against the consul increased.
itaque cum ex senatus consulto urbem ovans introiret, alternis inconditi versus militari licentia iactati, §4.53.12quibus consul increpitus, Meneni celebre nomen laudibus fuit, cum ad omnem mentionem tribuni favor circumstantis populi plausuque et adsensu cum vocibus militum certaret.
Therefore, when he entered the city in ovation by decree of the senate, unpolished verses were thrown out alternately with military license, in which the consul was chided, while the name of Menenius was famous with praises, since at every mention of the tribune the favor of the surrounding people vied with the voices of the soldiers in applause and assent.
§4.53.13plusque ea res quam prope sollemnis militum lascivia in consulem curae patribus iniecit; et tamquam haud dubius inter tribunos militum honos Meneni, si peteret, consularibus comitiis est exclusus.
And this matter injected more anxiety into the patricians than the almost customary jesting of the soldiers against the consul; and as if the honor of Menenius among the military tribunes were beyond doubt if he should seek it, he was excluded from the consular comitia.