mans; and
that they should have established a colony within the territory of the
Samnites, to which their colonists gave the name of Fregellae. This
injury and affront, if not done away by the authors, they were
determined themselves to remove, by every means in their power." When
one of the Roman ambassadors proposed to discuss the matter before their
common allies and friends, their magistrate said, "Why do we disguise
our sentiments? Romans, no conferences of ambassadors, nor arbitration
of any person whatever, can terminate our differences; but the plains of
Campania, in which we must meet; our arms and the common fortune of war
will settle the point. Let our armies, therefore, meet between Capua and
Suessula; and there let us decide, whether the Samnite or the Roman
shall hold the sovereignty of Italy." To this the ambassadors of the
Romans replied, "that they would go, not whither their enemy called, but
whither their commanders should lead." In the mean time, Publilius, by
seizing an advantageous post between Palaepolis and Neapolis, had cut off
that interchange of mutual aid, which they had hitherto afforded each
other, according as either place was hard pressed. Accordingly, when
both the day of the elections approached, and as it was highly
inexpedient for the public interest that Publilius should be called away
when on the point of assailing the enemy's walls, and in daily
expectation of gaining possession of their city, application was made to
the tribunes, to recommend to the people the passing of an order, that
Publilius Philo, when his year of office should expire, might continue
in command, as pro-consul, until the war with the Greeks should be
finished. A letter was despatched to Lucius Cornelius, with orders to
name a dictator; for it was not thought proper that the consul should be
recalled from the vigorous prosecution of the war now that he had
entered into Samnium. He nominated Marcus Claudius Marcellus, who
appointed Spurius Postumius master of the horse. The elections, however,
were not held by the dictator, because it became a question whether he
had been appointed under an irregularity; and the augurs being
consulted, pronounced that it appeared that the dictator's appointment
was defective. The tribunes inveighed against this proceeding as
dangerous and dishonourable; "for it was not probable," they said, "that
such defect could have been discovered, as the consul, rising in the
night, had nomi