ng about to
relieve the affair of the interest money also, which seemed to prevent
perfect unanimity, made the payment of the debts a matter of public
concern, five commissioners having been appointed, whom from their
management of the money they called bankers. By their justice and
diligence they deserved to have their names signalized by the records of
every history. They were Caius Duilius, Publius Decius Mus, Marcus
Papirius, Quintus Publilius, and Titus AEmilius; who underwent a task
most difficult to be managed, and dissatisfactory in general to both
parties, certainly always so to one, both with moderation in other
respects, as well as at the public expense, rather than with any loss
[to the creditors]. For the tardy debts and those which were more
troublesome, rather by the inertness of the debtors than by want of
means, either the treasury paid off, tables with money being placed in
the forum, in such a manner that the public was first secured; or a
valuation, at equitable prices, of their property freed them; so that
not only without injury, but even without complaints on either side, an
immense amount of debt was cleared off. After this a groundless alarm of
an Etrurian war, as there was a report that the twelve states had
conspired, rendered it necessary that a dictator should be appointed.
Caius Julius was nominated in the camp, (for the decree of the senate
was sent thither to the consuls,) to whom Lucius AEmilius was attached as
master of the horse. But all things were quiet abroad.

22. An attempt made at home by the dictator, to have the election of two
patrician consuls, brought the government to an interregnum. The two
interreges, Caius Sulpicius and Marcus Fabius, succeeded in that which
the dictator had in vain attempted, scil. in having both the consuls
elected from the patricians, the people being rather more appeased in
consequence of the service done them in lightening their debts. The
persons elected were, Caius Sulpicius Peticus himself, who first
resigned the office of interrex, and Titus Quinctius Pennus. Some attach
the name of Kaeso, others that of Caius to Quinctius. They both set out
to the war, Quinctius to the Faliscian, Sulpicius to the Tarquinian; and
the enemy no where meeting them in the field, they waged war more
against the lands than the men, by burning and laying waste every thing,
by the debilitating effects of which, as of a slow consumption, the
pertinacity of both states wa