§5.10.1L. Valerio Potito quartum, M. Furio Camillo iterum, M. Aemilio Mamerco tertium, Cn. Cornelio Cosso iterum, K. Fabio Ambusto, L. Iulio Iulo tribunis militum consulari potestate multa domi militiaeque gesta.
During the military tribunate with consular power of Lucius Valerius Potitus for the fourth time, Marcus Furius Camillus for the second, Marcus Aemilius Mamercus for the third, Gnaeus Cornelius Cossus for the second, Kaeso Fabius Ambustus, and Lucius Julius Iulus, many things were achieved at home and in war.
§5.10.2nam et bellum multiplex fuit eodem tempore, ad Veios et ad Capenam et ad Falerios et in Volscis, §5.10.3ut Anxur ab hostibus recuperaretur, et Romae simul dilectu simul tributo conferendo laboratum est, et de tribunis plebi cooptandis contentio fuit, et haud parvum motum duo iudicia eorum, qui paulo ante consulari potestate fuerant, excivere.
For there was a manifold war at the same time, at Veii, Capena, Falerii, and among the Volsci, so that Anxur was recovered from the enemy; and at Rome there was difficulty at once with holding the levy and with collecting the tribute, and there was a dispute about co-opting tribunes of the plebs, and two trials of those who shortly before had been in consular power caused no small excitement.
§5.10.4omnium primum tribunis militum fuit dilectum habere, nec iuniores modo conscripti, sed seniores etiam coacti nomina dare, ut urbis custodiam agerent.
First of all, the military tribunes had to hold a levy, and not only the younger men were enrolled, but the older men also were forced to give their names to act as the guard of the city.
quantum autem augebatur militum numerus, §5.10.5tanto maiore pecunia in stipendium opus erat, eaque tributo conferebatur, invitis conferentibus qui domi remanebant, quia tuentibus urbem opera quoque militari laborandum serviendumque rei publicae erat.
Moreover, by how much the number of soldiers was increased, by so much more money was needed for their pay, and this was raised by a tribute, which was paid reluctantly by those who remained at home, because those who guarded the city had also to toil and serve the state in military labor.
§5.10.6haec, per se gravia, indigniora ut viderentur, tribuni plebis seditiosis contionibus faciebant ideo aera militibus constituta esse arguendo, ut plebis partem militia, partem tributo conficerent.
These matters, heavy in themselves, the tribunes of the plebs by seditious speeches made to appear more shameful, by arguing that pay had been established for the soldiers for this purpose, namely, to exhaust one part of the plebeians by military service, and another part by tribute.
§5.10.7unum bellum annum iam tertium trahi et consulto male geri, ut diutius gerant.
That a single war was now being dragged out for a third year and was purposely mismanaged, so that they might carry it on longer.
in quattuor deinde bella uno dilectu exercitus scriptos et pueros quoque ac senes extractos.
That next, armies were enrolled for four wars by a single levy, and even boys and old men were dragged out.
§5.10.8iam non aestatis nec hiemis discrimen esse, §5.10.9ne ulla quies umquam miserae plebi sit, quae nunc etiam vectigalis ad ultimum facta sit, ut, cum confecta labore, vulneribus, postremo aetate corpora rettulerint incultaque omnia diutino dominorum desiderio domi invenerint, tributum ex adfecta re familiari pendant aeraque militaria velut faenore accepta multiplicia rei publicae reddant.
That now there was no longer any distinction of summer or winter, so that there should never be any rest for the wretched plebs, who had now even been made tributary to the last degree, so that, when they brought back bodies worn out by labor, wounds, and finally age, and found everything at home uncultivated through the long absence of their masters, they must pay tribute from their impaired private property, and return to the state the military pay, received as if on interest, multiplied.
inter dilectum tributumque §5.10.10et occupatos animos maiorum rerum curis comitiis tribunorum plebis numerus expleri nequiit.
Amidst the levy and tribute and minds occupied with the cares of greater matters, at the election of the tribunes of the plebs, the number could not be filled.
pugnatum inde, in loca vacua ut patricii cooptarentur.
Then there was a struggle so that patricians might be co-opted into the vacant places.
§5.10.11postquam obtineri non poterat, tamen labefactandae legis Treboniae causa effectum est, ut cooptarentur tribuni plebis C. Lacerius et M. Acutius haud dubie patriciorum opibus.
When this could not be obtained, nevertheless, for the purpose of undermining the Trebonian law, it was brought about that Gaius Lacerius and Marcus Acutius should be co-opted as tribunes of the plebs, undoubtedly by the influence of the patricians.