commonwealth has been
restored to tranquillity: and that Appius Claudius should now prepare to
take notice that an account is to be rendered by him of the comitia
which he himself held for electing decemvirs, whether they were elected
for one year, or until the laws which were wanting were ratified. It was
his opinion that all other matters should be laid aside for the present,
except the war; and if they thought that the reports regarding it were
propagated without foundation, and that not only the couriers, but the
ambassadors of the Tusculans also had stated what was false, he thought
that scouts should be despatched to bring back more certain information;
but if credit were given both to the couriers and the ambassadors, that
the levy should be held at the very earliest opportunity; that the
decemvirs should lead the armies, whither it may seem proper to each;
and that no other matter should take precedence.

[Footnote 145: The original here is rather obscure. _Aut socii, aut hi
maxime._ Crevier prefers to read _aut soli aut hi maxime_. Stroth
explains _socii, se socios praebendo_.]

41. The junior patricians succeeded in having this opinion carried.
Valerius and Horatius rising again with greater vehemence demanded
aloud, "that it should be allowed them to express their sentiments
concerning the republic; that they would address the people, if by a
faction they were not allowed to do so in the senate. For that private
individuals, either in the senate or in a general assembly, could not
prevent them; nor would they yield to their imaginary fasces." Appius
then considering that the crisis was now nigh at hand, when their
authority would be overpowered, unless their violence were resisted with
equal boldness: "It will be better," says he, "not to utter a word on
any subject, except that which we are now considering: and to Valerius,
when he refused to be silent for a private individual, he commands a
lictor to proceed." When Valerius, on the threshold of the senate-house,
now craved the protection of the citizens, Lucius Cornelius, embracing
Appius, put an end to the dispute, not consulting the interest of him
whose interest he affected to consult; and permission to speak his
sentiments being obtained for Valerius through Cornelius, when this
liberty did not extend beyond words, the decemvirs obtained their
object. The consulars also and senior members, from the hatred of
tribunitian power still rankling in their b