judgment has been given against him, and he has been consigned to
a creditor." That circumstance, indeed, so inflamed their minds, that
they seemed determined on following the assertor of their freedom
through every thing, right and wrong. Besides this, speeches [were made]
at his house, as if he were delivering an harangue, full of imputations
against the patricians; among which he threw out, waving all distinction
whether he said what was true or false, that treasures of the Gallic
gold were concealed by the patricians; that "they were now no longer
content with possessing the public lands, unless they appropriated the
public money also; if that were made public, that the commons might be
freed from their debt." When this hope was presented to them, then
indeed it seemed a scandalous proceeding, that when gold was to be
contributed to ransom the state from the Gauls, the collection was made
by a public tribute; that the same gold, when taken from the Gauls, had
become the plunder of a few. Accordingly they followed up the inquiry,
where the furtive possession of so enormous a treasure could be kept;
and when he deferred, and told them that he would inform them at the
proper time, all other objects being given up, the attention of all was
directed to this point; and it became evident that neither their
gratitude, if the information were true, nor their displeasure if it
proved false, would know any bounds.

15. Matters being in this state, the dictator, being summoned home from
the army, came into the city. A meeting of the senate being held on the
following day, when, having sufficiently sounded the inclinations of the
people, he forbade the senate to leave him, attended by that body, he
placed his throne in the comitium, and sent his sergeant to Marcus
Manlius; who on being summoned by the dictator's order, after he had
given intimation to his party that a contest was at hand, came to the
tribunal, attended by a numerous party. On the one side stood the
senate, on the other the people as if in battle-array, attentively
observing, each party, their respective leader. Then silence being made,
the dictator said, "I wish that I and the Roman patricians may agree
with the commons on all other matters, as I am confident we shall agree
on the business which regards you, and on that about which I am about to
interrogate you. I perceive that hopes have been raised by you in the
minds of the citizens, that, with safety to the