ere the strength--for
the war. As soon as this announcement was made in the senate, a levy was
ordered: the consuls were commanded to divide the management of the war
between them; that the Volscians should be the province of the one, the
AEquans that of the other. The tribunes cried out to their faces in the
forum, "That the Volscian war was all a concerted farce: that the
Hernicians were instructed to act their parts; that the liberty of the
Roman people was now no longer crushed by manly efforts, but that it was
baffled by cunning; because all probability was now gone that the
Volscians, who were almost exterminated, and the AEquans, would of
themselves commence hostilities, new enemies were sought for: that a
loyal colony, and one in their very vicinity, was being rendered
infamous: that war was proclaimed against the unoffending people of
Antium, and in reality waged with the commons of Rome, which after
loading them with arms they were determined to drive out of the city
with precipitous haste, wreaking their vengeance on the tribunes, by the
exile and expulsion of their fellow-citizens. That by these means, and
let them not think that there was any other object contemplated, the law
was defeated; unless, whilst the matter was still in abeyance, whilst
they were still at home and in the garb of citizens, they would take
precaution that they may not be driven out of possession of the city,
and be subjected to the yoke. If they only had spirit, that support
would not be wanting; that all the tribunes were unanimous; that there
was no apprehension from abroad, no danger. That the gods had taken
care, on the preceding year, that their liberty could now be defended
with safety." Thus far the tribunes.

[Footnote 115: Niebuhr, ii. n. 631, asks whether it was worms. [Greek:
Sarkon thrausmata]. Dion. x. 2.]

[Footnote 116: The Sibylline books.]

11. But, on the other side, the consuls, having placed their chairs
within view of them, were proceeding with the levy; thither the tribunes
hasten, and draw the assembly along with them; a few were cited, by way
of making an experiment, and instantly violence commenced. Whomsoever
the lictor laid hold of by order of the consul, him the tribune ordered
to be discharged; nor did his own proper jurisdiction set a limit to
each, but whatever you set your mind upon, was to be attained by the
hope of strength and by force. Just as the tribunes had behaved in
impeding the levy, in th