7.22
Abroad,
however, everything was tranquil. At home, owing to the Dictator's attempt
to secure the election of patricians to both consulships, matters were brought
to an interregnum. There were two interreges, C. Sulpicius and M. Fabius,
and they succeeded where the Dictator had failed, as the plebs, owing to the
pecuniary relief recently granted them, were in a less aggressive mood. Both
consuls elected were patricians -C. Sulpicius Peticus, who had been the first
of the two interreges, and T. Quinctius Pennus, some give as his third name
Caeso, others Gaius. They both proceeded to war; Quinctius against Falerii,
Sulpicius against Tarquinii. The enemy nowhere faced them in open battle;
the war was carried on against fields rather than against men; burning and
destroying went on everywhere. This waste and decay, like that of a slow
decline, wore down the resolution of the two peoples, and they asked for a
truce first from the consuls then by their permission from the senate. They
obtained one for forty years. After the anxiety created by these two
threatening wars was in this way allayed, there was a respite for a time from
arms. The liquidation of the debts had in the case of many properties led to a
change of ownership, and it was decided that a fresh assessment should be
made. When, however, notice was given of the election of censors, C.
Marcius Rutilus, who had been the first Dictator nominated from the plebs,
announced that he was a candidate for the censorship. This upset the good
feeling between the two orders. He took this step at what looked like an
unfavourable moment because both consuls happened to be patricians, and
they declared that they would allow no votes for him. But he resolutely held
to his purpose, and the tribunes, anxious to recover the rights of the plebs
which were lost in the consular elections, assisted him to the utmost of their
power. There was no dignity which the greatness of his character was
unequal to supporting, and the plebs were desirous of being called to share
the censorship by the same man who had opened up the path to the
dictatorship. There was no division of opinion shown in the elections,
Marcius was unanimously elected censor, together with Manlius Gnaeus.
This year also saw M. Fabius as Dictator, not from any apprehension of war
but to prevent the Licinian Law from being observed in the consular
elections. The Dictatorship, however, did not make the combined efforts of
the senate more influential in the election of consuls than it had been in the
election of censors.