levelled to the ground, that the
Roman commons may be able to raise their heads. Wherefore stand by me,
prevent judicial proceedings from going on regarding money. I profess
myself the patron of the commons--a title with which my solicitude and
zeal invests me. If you will dignify your leader by any more
distinguishing title of honour or command, ye will render him still more
powerful to obtain what ye desire." From this his first attempt is said
to have arisen with respect to the obtaining of regal power; but no
sufficiently clear account is handed down, either with whom [he acted],
or how far his designs extended.

19. But, on the other side, the senate began to deliberate regarding the
secession of the commons into a private house, and that, as it so
happened, situate in the citadel, and regarding the great danger that
was threatening liberty. Great numbers cry out, that a Servilius Ahala
was wanted, who would not irritate a public enemy by ordering him to be
led to prison, but would finish an intestine war with the loss of one
citizen. They came to a resolution milder in terms, but possessing the
same force, that the magistrates should see that "the commonwealth
received no detriment from the designs of Marcus Manlius." Then the
consular tribunes, and the tribunes of the commons, (for these also had
submitted to the authority of the senate, because they saw that the
termination of their own power and of the liberty of all would be the
same,) all these then consult together as to what was necessary to be
done. When nothing suggested itself to the mind of any, except violence
and bloodshed, and it was evident that that would be attended with great
risk; then Marcus Maenius, and Quintus Publilius, tribunes of the
commons, say, "Why do we make that a contest between the patricians and
commons, which ought to be between the state and one pestilent citizen?
Why do we attack, together with the commons, a man whom it is safer to
attack through the commons themselves, that he may fall overpowered by
his own strength? We have it in contemplation to appoint a day of trial
for him. Nothing is less popular than regal power; as soon as the
multitude shall perceive that the contest is not with them, and that
from advocates they are to be made judges, and shall behold the
prosecutors from among the commons, the accused a patrician, and that
the charge between both parties is that of aiming at regal power, they
will favour no object