2.28
Then A. Verginius and T.
Vetusius took office. As the plebeians were doubtful
as to what sort of consuls they would have, and were
anxious to avoid any precipitate and ill-considered
action which might result from hastily adopted
resolutions in the Forum, they began to hold
meetings at night, some on the Esquiline and others
on the Aventine. The consuls considered this state
of things to be fraught with danger, as it really
was, and made a formal report to the senate. But any
orderly discussion of their report was out of the
question, owing to the excitement and clamour with
which the senators received it, and the indignation
they felt at the consuls throwing upon them the
odium of measures which they ought to have carried
on their own authority as consuls. "Surely," it was
said, "if there were really magistrates in the
State, there would have been no meetings in Rome
beyond the public Assembly; now the State was broken
up into a thousand senates and assemblies, since
some councils were being held on the Esquiline and
others on the Aventine. Why, one man like Appius
Claudius, who was worth more than a consul, would
have dispersed these gatherings in a moment." When
the consuls, after being thus censured, asked what
they wished them to do, as they were prepared to act
with all the energy and determination that the
senate desired, a decree was passed that the levy
should be raised as speedily as possible, for the
plebs was waxing wanton through idleness. After
dismissing the senate, the consuls ascended the
tribunal and called out the names of those liable to
active service. Not a single man answered to his
name. The people, standing round as though in formal
assembly, declared that the plebs could no longer be
imposed upon, the consuls should not get a single
soldier until the promise made in the name of the
State was fulfilled. Before arms were put into their
hands, every man's liberty must be restored to him,
that they might fight for their country and their
fellow-citizens and not for tyrannical masters. The
consuls were quite aware of the instructions they
had received from the senate, but they were also
aware that none of those who had spoken so bravely
within the walls of the Senate-house were now
present to share the odium which they were
incurring. A desperate conflict with the plebs
seemed inevitable. Before proceeding to extremities
they decided to consult the senate again. Thereupon
all the younger senators rushed from their seats,
and crowding round the chairs of the consuls,
ordered them to resign their office and lay down an
authority which they had not the courage to
maintain.