40.46
"We
have not forgotten, censors, that you have just been chosen by the universal
voice of the Roman people to superintend our morals, and that we must be
admonished and regulated by you, not you by us. We are, however, bound to
point out what it is in you that gives offence to all good citizens, or at all
events what they would prefer to see changed. When we contemplate you
each by himself, M. Aemilius and M. Fulvius, we feel that we have no one
amongst the citizens today whom, if we were recalled to the polling booths,
we should wish to take precedence of you. But when we behold you both
together we cannot help fearing that you are ill-suited for each other, and
that the unanimous vote in your favour will not benefit the commonwealth so
much as the entire absence of unanimity between yourselves will injure it.
For many years you have been cherishing violent and bitter feelings against
each other, and the danger is that these may prove more disastrous to us and
to the commonwealth than to you. Many considerations might be alleged,
unless you are deaf to all remonstrance, as to the causes of your mutual
hostility. We all of us with one voice implore you to put an end to these
quarrels on this day and on this hallowed ground; we ask that the men whom
the Roman people have associated together by their vote may through us be
reconciled to one another. Choose the senate, revise the equities, close the
lustrum with one mind, one judgment, so that when you repeat the formula
of almost all the prayers: 'May this prove to be a good and blessed thing for
me and my colleague,' you may in all sincerity desire and bring it about that it
shall so prove, so that what you have prayed for from the gods, we men may
believe you really wish for. In the very City where they met in hostile
encounter, Titus Tatius and Romulus reigned peacefully side by side. Not
only private quarrels, but even wars are put an end to; deadly enemies
generally prove the most faithful allies; sometimes they even become
fellow-citizens. When Alba was destroyed, the Albans were transferred to
Rome; the Latins and the Sabines have been admitted to our franchise. That
common saying: 'Friendships ought to be immortal, enmities mortal,' has
passed into a proverb because it is true."
Murmurs of approval were heard and then the voices of all present,
as though it were the voice of one making the same request, drowned the
speaker. Hereupon Aemilius, amongst other things, complained that he had
been twice rejected by M. Fulvius as a candidate for the consulship when he
was certain to win it. Fulvius, on the other hand, protested that he had been
constantly receiving provocation from Aemilius and had undergone the
humiliation of having to give security. They each, however, signified that if
the other was willing, he would bow to the authority of such an influential
body. As all present pressed their demand, the censors grasped each other's
hands and gave their word to dismiss all angry feelings and put an end to
their quarrel. They were then conducted to the Capitol amidst universal
applause, and the trouble which their leaders had taken over the matter and
the yielding temper of the censors received the approbation and praise of the
senate. The censors asked for a grant of money to spend on public works,
and one year's revenue was assigned to them.