§5.9.1primores patrum, sive culpa sive infelicitate imperatorum tam ignominiosa clades accepta esset, censuere non expectandum iustum tempus comitiorum, sed extemplo novos tribunos militum creandos esse, qui kal. §5.9.2Octobribus magistratum occiperent.
The leading men of the senators, whether so ignominious a defeat had been received through the fault or the misfortune of the commanders, resolved that they should not wait for the regular time of the elections, but that new military tribunes should be created immediately, who, on the Kalends of October should enter upon their office.
in quam sententiam cum pedibus iretur, ceteri tribuni militum nihil contradicere; §5.9.3at enim vero Sergius Verginiusque, propter quos paenitere magistratuum eius anni senatum apparebat, primo deprecari ignominiam, deinde intercedere senatus consulto, negare se ante idus Decembris, sollemnem ineundis magistratibus diem, honore abituros esse.
When they voted in favor of this opinion by walking, the other military tribunes made no objection; but indeed Sergius and Verginius, on whose account it was apparent that the senate was dissatisfied with the magistracies of that year, at first begged to be spared the ignominy, and then vetoed the decree of the senate, declaring that they would not depart from their office before the Ides of December, the solemn day for entering upon magistracies.
§5.9.4inter haec tribuni plebis, cum in concordia hominum secundisque rebus civitatis inviti silentium tenuissent, feroces repente minari tribunis militum, nisi in auctoritate senatus essent, se in vincla eos duci iussuros esse.
Meanwhile the tribunes of the plebs, who had unwillingly kept silence during the harmony of the citizens and the prosperous affairs of the state, suddenly growing fierce, threatened the military tribunes that, unless they submitted to the authority of the senate, they would order them to be led into chains.
§5.9.5tum C. Servilius Ahala tribunus militum: “quod ad vos attinet, tribuni plebis, minasque vestras, ne ego libenter experirer, quam non plus in iis iuris quam in vobis animi esset; sed nefas est tendere adversus auctoritatem senatus.
Then Gaius Servilius Ahala, the military tribune, said: "As for you, tribunes of the plebs, and your threats, I would indeed gladly have put to the test how those threats have no more of right in them than you have of courage; but it is impious to strive against the authority of the senate.
§5.9.6proinde et vos desinite inter nostra certamina locum iniuriae quaerere, et collegae aut facient, quod censet senatus, aut, si pertinacius tendent, dictatorem extemplo dicam, qui eos abire magistratu cogat. ” §5.9.7cum omnium adsensu conprobata oratio esset gauderentque patres sine tribuniciae potestatis terriculis inventam esse aliam vim maiorem ad coercendos magistratus, §5.9.8victi consensu omnium comitia tribunorum militum habuere, qui kal. Octobribus magistratum occiperent, seque ante eam diem magistratu abdicavere.
Therefore, do you also cease to seek an opportunity for injustice amidst our disputes; and my colleagues will either do what the senate decrees, or, if they strive more obstinately, I will immediately name a dictator to compel them to resign from office." When the speech had been approved with the assent of all, and the senators rejoiced that, without the terrifying threats of the tribunician power, another greater force had been found to coerce the magistrates, yielded to the consensus of all, they held the elections for military tribunes, who should enter upon their office on the Kalends of October, and resigned from their own office before that day.