45.36
In this
angry mood they assembled in the Capitol. When Tiberius Sempronius put
the resolution and the citizens were at liberty to speak, not a single person
came forward to support it, as though it was taken for granted that it would
be carried. Suddenly Servius Galba came forward and said that it was now
four o'clock in the afternoon and there was not sufficient time for him to give
his reasons why they should refuse the order for P. Aemilius to enjoy a
triumph; he requested the tribunes of the plebs to adjourn the Assembly to
the following day and commence the discussion in the morning, as he would
need an entire day to state his case. The tribunes told him to say what he
wanted to say there and then. His speech lasted till nightfall. He reminded his
audience how all military tasks had been ruthlessly imposed, how there had
been more labour, more danger incurred than circumstances required; but on
the other hand, when it came to rewards and distinctions everything was cut
down; if such generals were to have their way warfare would become more
rough and repulsive to those engaged in it, and even when victory came it
would bring neither profit nor honour. The Macedonians were better off than
the Roman soldiers were. If they came in force the next day to vote against
the resolution the men in power would understand that the general has not
everything in his own hands, the soldiers too have something in their hands.
Excited by this language, the soldiers crowded into the Capitol in such
numbers that there was no room for any one else to give his vote. When the
tribes who were first called upon were beginning to vote against the
proposal, the chiefs of the City hurried to the Capitol and exclaimed loudly
against such an unworthy proceeding. Lucius Paulus, they said, the victor in
so great a war, was being robbed of his triumph, the commanders were being
placed at the mercy of a licentious and grasping soldiery. Political corruption
had already been the cause of too many crimes; what would happen if the
soldiers were made the lords and masters of their commanders? Each did his
utmost to shower reproaches on Galba. The tumult was at last allayed, and
M. Servilius who had been consul and Master of the Horse begged the
tribunes to commence the proceedings afresh and give him an opportunity of
addressing the people. The tribunes retired to deliberate, and out of
deference to the authority of the leaders of the State, prepared to go through
the business from the beginning, and announced their intention of calling
upon the tribes who had already voted to vote again after M. Servilius and
any other citizens had stated their views.
