6.18
At the
close of the year, amidst the growing agitation headed by Manlius, the
elections were held. The new consular tribunes were: Ser. Cornelius
Maluginensis and P. Valerius Potitus (each for the second time), M. Furius
Camillus (for the fifth time), Ser. Sulpicius Rufus (for the second time), C.
Papirius Crassus and T. Quinctius Cincinnatus (for the second time). The
year opened in peace, which was most opportune for both patricians and
plebeians -for the plebs, because as they were not called away to serve in
the ranks, they hoped to secure relief from the burden of debt, especially
now that they had such a strong leader; for the patricians, as no external
alarms would distract their minds from dealing with their domestic troubles.
As each side was more prepared for the struggle it could not long be
delayed. Manlius, too, was inviting the plebeians to his house and discussing
night and day revolutionary plans with their leaders in a much more
aggressive and resentful spirit than formerly. His resentment was kindled by
the recent humiliation inflicted on a spirit unaccustomed to disgrace; his
aggressiveness was encouraged by his belief that the Dictator had not
ventured to treat him as Quinctius Cincinnatus had treated Sp. Maelius, for
not only had the Dictator avoided the odium created by his imprisonment
through resignation, but even the senate had not been able to face it.
Emboldened and embittered by these considerations, he roused the
passions of the plebs, who were already incensed enough, to a higher pitch
by his harangues. "How long, pray," he asked, " are you going to remain in
ignorance of your strength, an ignorance which nature forbids even to
beasts? Do at least reckon up your numbers and those of your opponents.
Even if you were going to attack them on equal terms, man for man, I
believe that you would fight more desperately for freedom than they for
power. But you are much more numerous, for all you who have been in
attendance on your patrons as clients will now confront them as adversaries.
You have only to make a show of war and you will have peace. Let them see
you are prepared to use force, they will abate their claims. You must dare
something as a body or you will have to suffer everything as individuals.
How long will you look to me? I certainly shall not fail you, see to it that
Fortune does not fail me. I, your avenger, when your enemies thought fit
was suddenly reduced to nothing, and you watched the man carried off to
prison who had warded off imprisonment from so many of you. What have I
to hope for, if my enemies dare to do more to me? Am I to look for the fate
of Cassius and Maelius? It is all very well to cry in horror, ' The gods will
prevent that,' but they will never come down from heaven on my account.
You must prevent it; they must give you the courage to do so, as they gave
me courage to defend you as a soldier from the barbarian enemy and as a
civilian from your tyrannical fellow-citizens. Is the spirit of this great nation
so small that you will always remain contented with the aid which your
tribunes now afford you against your enemies, and never know any subject
of dispute with the patricians, except as to how far you allow them to lord it
over you ? This is not your natural instinct, you are the slaves of habit. For
why is it that you display such spirit towards foreign nations as to think it
fair and just that you should rule over them? Because with them you have
been wont to contend for dominion, while against these domestic enemies it
has been a contest for liberty, which you have mostly attempted rather than
maintained. Still, whatever leaders you have had, whatever qualities you
yourselves have shown, you have so far, either by your strength or your
good fortune, achieved every object, however great, on which you have set
your hearts. Now it is time to attempt greater things. If you will only put
your own good fortune to the test, if you will only put me to the test, who
have already been tested fortunately, I hope, for you, you will have less
trouble in setting up some one to lord it over the patricians than you have
had in setting up men to resist their lording it over you. Dictatorships and
consulships must be levelled to the ground in order that the Roman plebs
may lift up its head. Take your places, then, in the Forum; prevent any
judgment for debt from being pronounced. I profess myself the Patron of the
plebs, a title with which my care and fidelity have invested me; if you prefer
to designate your leader by any other title of honour or command, you will
find in him a more powerful instrument for attaining the objects you desire."
It is said that this was the first step in his attempt to secure kingly power, but
there is no clear tradition as to his fellow-conspirators or the extent to which
his plans were developed