lebeian consul. At the same time they
found fault with the dictator, who had obtained the consulship as a
bribe for having infringed the Licinian law, more dishonourable for the
private ambition [evinced] thereby than for the injury inflicted on the
public, so that, when dictator, he might have himself appointed consul.
The year was remarkable for many and various commotions. The Gauls
[descending] from the Alban mountains, because they were unable to
endure the severity of the winter, straggling through the plains and the
parts adjoining the sea, committed devastations. The sea was infested by
fleets of the Greeks; and the borders of the Antian shore, and the mouth
of the Tiber; so that the maritime plunderers, encountering those on
land, fought on one occasion an obstinate fight, and separated, the
Gauls to their camp, the Greeks back to their ships, doubting whether
they should consider themselves as vanquished or victors. Among these
the greatest alarm arose at the circumstance, that assemblies of the
Latin states were held at the grove of Ferentina; and an unequivocal
answer was given to the Romans on their ordering soldiers from them,
"that they should cease to issue their orders to those of whose
assistance they stood in need: that the Latins would take up arms in
defence of their own liberty, rather than for the dominion of others."
The senate becoming uneasy at the defection of their allies, whilst two
foreign wars existed at the same time, when they perceived that those
whom fidelity had not restrained, should be restrained by fear, ordered
the consuls to exert to the utmost the energies of their authority in
holding a levy. For that they should depend on an army of their
countrymen, since their allies were deserting them. Ten legions are said
to have been levied, consisting each of four thousand two hundred
infantry and three hundred horse. Such a newly-raised army, if any
foreign force should assail, the present power of the Roman people,
which is scarcely confined within the whole world, could not easily
raise now, if concentrated upon one point: so true it is, we have
improved in those particulars only about which we are solicitous, riches
and luxury. Among the other distressing events of this year, Appius
Claudius, one of the consuls, dies in the midst of the preparations for
the war; and the whole direction of affairs devolved on Camillus; over
whom, the only consul, it did not appear seemly that a dictato