e, and such as could not be attained without the greatest
struggles. A contest therefore for all those objects, of which there is
ever an inordinate desire among men, viz. land, money, and honours,
being now proposed, the patricians became terrified and dismayed, and
finding no other remedy in their public and private consultations except
the protest, which had been tried in many previous contests, they gained
over their colleagues to oppose the bills of the tribunes. When they saw
the tribes summoned by Licinius and Sextius to announce their votes,
surrounded by bands of patricians, they neither suffered the bills to be
read, nor any other usual form for taking the votes of the commons to be
gone through. And now assemblies being frequently convened to no
purpose, when the propositions were now considered as rejected; "It is
very well," says Sextius; "since it is determined that a protest should
possess so much power, by that same weapon will we protect the people.
Come, patricians, proclaim an assembly for the election of military
tribunes; I will take care that that word, I FORBID IT, which you listen
to our colleagues chaunting with so much pleasure, shall not be very
delightful to you." Nor did the threats fall ineffectual: no elections
were held, except those of aediles and plebeian tribunes. Licinius and
Sextius, being re-elected plebeian tribunes, suffered not any curule
magistrates to be appointed, and this total absence of magistrates
continued in the city for the space of five years, the people
re-electing the two tribunes, and these preventing the election of
military tribunes.

36. There was an opportune cessation of other wars: the colonists of
Velitrae, becoming wanton through ease, because there was no Roman army,
made repeated incursions on the Roman territory, and set about laying
siege to Tusculum. This circumstance, the Tusculans, old allies, new
fellow-citizens, imploring aid, moved not only the patricians, but the
commons also, chiefly with a sense of honour. The tribunes of the
commons relaxing their opposition, the elections were held by the
interrex; and Lucius Furius, Aulus Manlius, Servius Sulpicius, Servius
Cornelius, Publius and Caius Valerius, found the commons by no means so
complying in the levy as in the elections; and an army having been
raised amid great contention, they set out, and not only dislodged the
enemy from Tusculum, but shut them up even within their own walls.
Velitrae bega