§4.60.1nihil acceptum umquam a plebe tanto gaudio traditur.
It is recorded that nothing was ever received by the plebs with such great joy.
concursum itaque ad curiam esse prensatasque exeuntium manus et patres vere appellatos, effectum esse fatentibus, ut nemo pro tam munifica patria, donec quicquam virium superesset, corpori aut sanguini suo parceret.
Consequently, there was a rush to the senate-house, and the hands of those coming out were grasped, and they were called "fathers" indeed, with people confessing that it had been brought about that no one, as long as any strength remained, would spare his body or blood for so generous a fatherland.
§4.60.2cum commoditas iuvaret, rem familiarem saltem acquiescere eo tempore, quo corpus addictum atque operatum rei publicae esset, tum quod ultro sibi oblatum esset, non a tribunis plebis umquam agitatum non suis sermonibus efflagitatum, id efficiebat multiplex gaudium cumulatioremque gratiam rei.
While the convenience was pleasing—namely, that their private property at least was at rest at that time when their body was bound and dedicated to the public service—furthermore, the fact that it had been offered to them voluntarily, never having been agitated by the tribunes of the plebs nor demanded in their own conversations, made the joy manifold and the gratitude for the matter more abundant.
§4.60.3tribuni plebis communis ordinum laetitiae concordiaeque soli expertes negare tam id laetum patribus nec universis prosperum fore, quam ipsi crederent.
The tribunes of the plebs, alone sharing in none of the general joy and harmony of the orders, declared that this would not be as joyful to the patricians nor as prosperous for the whole body as they themselves believed.
consilium specie prima melius fuisse quam usu appariturum.
The plan, they said, would appear better at first sight than in actual practice.
§4.60.4unde enim eam pecuniam confici posse nisi tributo populo indicto? ex alieno igitur aliis largitos.
For from where could that money be raised except by levying a tax on the people? Therefore, they had been generous to some from the property of others.
neque id, etiamsi ceteri ferant, passuros eos, quibus iam emerita stipendia essent, meliore condicione alios militare, quam ipsi militassent, et eosdem in sua stipendia inpensas fecisse et in aliorum facere.
And even if the rest should bear it, those whose service was already completed would not suffer others to serve on better terms than they themselves had served, and that they themselves should have paid expenses for their own service and should do so for that of others.
his vocibus moverunt partem plebis.
By these speeches they moved a part of the plebs.
§4.60.5postremo indicto iam tributo edixerunt etiam tribuni auxilio se futuros, si quis in militare stipendium tributum non contulisset.
Finally, when the tax was already levied, the tribunes even proclaimed that they would be of assistance if anyone did not contribute the tax for the military pay.
§4.60.6patres bene coeptam rem perseveranter tueri; conferre ipsi primi et, quia nondum argentum signatum erat, aes grave plaustris quidam ad aerarium convehentes speciosam etiam conlationem faciebant.
The patricians perseveringly maintained the well-begun undertaking; they themselves contributed first, and, because silver was not yet coined, some of them, bringing heavy bronze in wagons to the treasury, made even their contribution a splendid sight.
§4.60.7cum senatus summa fide ex censu contulisset, primores plebis, nobilium amici, ex conposito conferre incipiunt.
When the senate had contributed with the greatest good faith according to their assessment, the leading men of the plebs, friends of the nobles, began to contribute by agreement.
quos cum §4.60.8et a patribus conlaudari et a militari aetate tamquam bonos cives conspici vulgus hominum vidit, repente spreto tribunicio auxilio certamen conferendi est ortum.
When the common people saw them both praised by the patricians and looked upon by those of military age as good citizens, suddenly, spurning the tribunes' assistance, a rivalry in contributing arose.
§4.60.9et lege perlata de indicendo Veientibus bello exercitum magna ex parte voluntarium novi tribuni militum consulari potestate Veios duxere.
And when the law was passed for declaring war on the Veientes, the new military tribunes with consular power led to Veii an army that was for the most part voluntary.