§5.25.1haec cum foedis certaminibus agerentur — nam partem tribunorum plebi patres in suam sententiam traxerant — §5.25.2, nulla res alia manibus temperare plebem cogebat, quam quod, ubi rixae committendae causa clamor ortus esset, principes senatus primi turbae offerentes se peti feririque atque occidi iubebant. §5.25.3ab horum aetatibus dignitatibusque et honoribus violandis dum abstinebatur, et ad reliquos similes conatus verecundia irae obstabat.
While these things were being transacted with ugly struggles—for the patricians had drawn a part of the tribunes of the plebs to their own opinion— nothing else compelled the plebeians to restrain their hands, except that, whenever a clamor arose for the sake of starting a quarrel, the leading men of the senate were the first to offer themselves to the crowd, bidding them to target, strike, and kill them. While they abstained from violating the age, dignity, and honors of these men, a respect of their anger also stood in the way of other similar attempts.
Camillus identidem omnibus locis contionabundus: §5.25.4haud mirum id quidem esse, furere civitatem, quae damnata voti omnium rerum potiorem curam quam religione se exsolvendi habeat. §5.25.5nihil de conlatione dicere stipis verius quam decumae, quando ea se quisque privatim obligaverit, liberatus sit populus. §5.25.6enimvero illud se tacere suam conscientiam non pati, quod ex ea tantum praeda, quae rerum moventium sit, decuma designetur; urbis atque agri capti, quae et ipsa voto contineantur, mentionem nullam fieri. §5.25.7cum ea disceptatio, anceps senatui visa, delegata ad pontifices esset, adhibito Camillo visum collegio, quod eius ante conceptumn votum Veientium fuisset et post votum in potestatem populi Romani venisset, eius partem decumam Apollini sacram esse.
Camillus, making speeches repeatedly in all places, said: Indeed, it was not surprising that the state was in a frenzy, which, having been bound by its vow, had a greater care for all other things than for releasing itself from its religious obligation. He said nothing of the contribution of small alms, but rather spoke of the tithe, since in the former case each person had bound himself privately, and the people as a whole were free. But indeed his conscience did not allow him to remain silent about the fact that the tithe was designated only from that booty which consisted of movable property, while no mention was made of the captured city and land, which themselves were also included in the vow. When this dispute, seeming doubtful to the senate, was referred to the pontiffs, with Camillus present, it was decided by the college that of whatever had belonged to the Veientes before the vow was made, and had come into the power of the Roman people after the vow, a tenth part of it should be sacred to Apollo.
ita in aestimationem urbs agerque venit. §5.25.8pecunia ex aerario prompta et tribunis militum consularibus, ut aurum ex ea coemerent, negotium datum.
Thus the city and the land were brought into valuation. Money was brought out from the treasury, and the task was given to the military tribunes with consular power to buy up gold with it.
cuius cum copia non esset, matronae coetibus ad eam rem consultandam habitis, communi decreto pollicitae tribunis militum aurum, omnia ornamenta sua in aerarium detulerunt. §5.25.9grata ea res ut quae maxime senatui umquam fuit; honoremque ob eam munificentiam ferunt matronis habitum, ut pilento ad sacra ludosque, carpentis festo profestoque uterentur. §5.25.10pondere ab singulis auri accepto aestimatoque, ut pecuniae solverentur, crateram auream fieri placuit, quae donum Apollini Delphos portaretur. §5.25.11simul ab religione animos remiserunt, integrant seditionem tribuni plebis; incitatur multitudo in omnes principes, ante alios in Camillum: §5.25.12eum praedam Veientanam publicando sacrandoque ad nihilum redegisse.
Since there was not a sufficient supply of it, the matrons, having held meetings to consult on this matter, promised gold to the military tribunes by a common decree, and brought all their ornaments into the treasury. This act was pleasing to the senate as much as anything ever was; and they say that an honor was granted to the matrons for this munificence, that they should use a four-wheeled carriage for sacred rites and games, and a two-wheeled carriage on holy and ordinary days. When the weight of gold from each had been received and valued, so that the money should be paid to them, it was resolved that a golden bowl should be made, which was to be carried to Delphi as a gift to Apollo. As soon as they relaxed their minds from religious awe, the tribunes of the plebs renewed the sedition; the multitude was incited against all the leading men, and before others against Camillus: saying that he had reduced the Veientine booty to nothing by making it public property and consecrating it.
absentes ferociter increpant; praesentium, cum se ultro iratis offerrent, §5.25.13verecundiam habent.
They fiercely rebuked those who were absent; but for those who were present, although they offered themselves voluntarily to the angry crowd, they had respect.
simul extrahi rem ex eo anno viderunt, tribunos plebis latores legis in annum eosdem reficiunt; et patres hoc idem de intercessoribus legis adnisi.
At the same time, when they saw that the business was being dragged out beyond that year, they re-elected the same tribunes of the plebs, the proposers of the law, for the next year; and the patricians strived for this same thing regarding the intercessors of the law.
ita tribuni plebis magna ex parte iidem refecti.
Thus, the tribunes of the plebs were for the most part re-elected as the same men.