§6.19.1at in parte altera senatus de secessione in domum privatam plebis, forte etiam in arce positam, et inminenti mole libertati agitat.
But on the other hand, the senate was discussing the withdrawal of the plebs into a private house—which by chance was also situated on the citadel—and the immense threat impending over liberty.
§6.19.2magna pars vociferantur Servilio Ahala opus esse, qui non in vincla duci iubendo inritet publicum hostem, sed unius iactura civis finiat intestinum bellum.
A large part cried out that there was need of a Servilius Ahala, who would not irritate a public enemy by ordering him to be led into chains, but would end the internal war by the sacrifice of a single citizen.
§6.19.3decurritur ad leniorem verbis sententiam, vim tamen eandem habentem, ut videant magistratus, ne quid ex perniciosis consiliis M. Manli res publica detrimenti capiat.
They resorted to a decree milder in words, yet having the same force: namely, that the magistrates should see to it that the republic receive no harm from the pernicious plans of Marcus Manlius.
§6.19.4tum tribuni consulari potestate tribunique plebi — nam ei, quia eundem et suae potestatis, quem libertatis omnium, finem cernebant, patrum auctoritati se dediderant — hi tum omnes, quid opus facto sit, consultant.
Then the tribunes with consular power and the tribunes of the plebs—for the latter, because they saw that the end of their own power was the same as the end of the liberty of all, had yielded themselves to the authority of the patricians—all these then consulted as to what was necessary to be done.
§6.19.5cum praeter vim et caedem nihil cuiquam occureret, eam autem ingentis dimicationis fore appareret, tum M. Menenius et Q. Publilius tribuni plebis: “quid patrum et plebis certamen facimus,
When nothing occurred to anyone except force and bloodshed, and yet it was apparent that this would lead to a huge struggle, then Marcus Menenius and Quintus Publilius, tribunes of the plebs, said: “Why do we make a struggle between the patricians and the plebs, which ought to be a struggle of the state against one pestilential citizen?
§6.19.6quod civitatis esse adversus unum pestiferum civem debet? quid cum plebe adgredimur eum, quem per ipsam plebem tutius adgredi est, ut suis ipse oneratus viribus ruat? diem dicere ei nobis in animo est.
Why do we attack him with the plebs, when it is safer to attack him through the plebs itself, so that he may fall, overwhelmed by his own strength? It is our intention to name a day of trial for him.
§6.19.7nihil minus populare quam regnum est.
Nothing is less popular than kingly power.
simul multitudo illa non secum certari viderint et ex advocatis iudices facti erunt et accusatores de plebe, patricium reum intuebuntur et regni crimen in medio, nulli magis quam libertati favebunt suae. ”
As soon as that multitude sees that the struggle is not against them, and they are changed from supporters into judges, they will look upon accusers from the plebs, a patrician defendant, and the charge of seeking kingly power in their midst, and they will favor nothing more than their own liberty.”