4.60
Nothing, it is recorded,
was ever welcomed by the plebs with such delight;
they crowded round the Senate-house, grasped the
hands of the senators as they came out, acknowledged
that they were rightly called "Fathers," and
declared that after what they had done no one would
ever spare his person or his blood, as long as any
strength remained, for so generous a country. They
saw with pleasure that their private property at all
events would rest undisturbed at such times as they
were impressed and actively employed in the public
service, and the fact of the boon being
spontaneously offered, without any demand on the
part of their tribunes, increased their happiness
and gratitude immensely. The only people who did not
share the general feeling of joy and goodwill were
the tribunes of the plebs. They asserted that the
arrangement would not turn out such a pleasant thing
for the senate or such a benefit to the whole
community as they supposed. The policy was more
attractive at first sight than it would prove in
actual practice. From what source, they asked, could
the money be raised; except by imposing a tax on the
people? They were generous at other people's
expense. Besides, those who had served their time
would not, even if the rest approved, permit others
to serve on more favourable terms than they
themselves had done and after having had to provide
for their own expenses, now provide for those of
others. These arguments influenced some of the
plebeians. At last, after the tax had been imposed,
the tribunes actually gave notice that they would
protect any one who refused to contribute to the war
tax. The senators were determined to uphold a
measure so happily inaugurated, they were themselves
the first to contribute, and as coined money was not
yet introduced, they carried the copper by weight in
wagons to the treasury, thereby drawing public
attention to the fact of their contributing. After
the senators had contributed most conscientiously
the full amount at which they were assessed, the
leading plebeians, personal friends of the nobles,
began, as had been agreed, to pay in their share.
When the crowd saw these men applauded by the senate
and looked up to by the men of military age as
patriotic citizens, they hastily rejected the
proffered protection of the tribunes and vied with
one another in their eagerness to contribute. The
proposal authorising the declaration of war against
Veii was carried, and the new consular tribunes
marched thither an army composed to a large extent
of men who volunteered for service.