a meeting every day, waste the time
in wrangling more frequently than in deliberation. The murder of
Siccius, the lust of Appius, and the disgraces incurred in war were
urged as charges against the decemvirs. It was resolved that Valerius
and Horatius should proceed to the Aventine. They refused to go on any
other conditions, than that the decemvirs should lay down the badges of
that office, which had expired the year before. The decemvirs,
complaining that they were now being degraded, stated that they would
not resign their office, until those laws were passed on account of
which they had been appointed.

52. The people being informed through Marcus Duilius, who had been
tribune of the people, that by reason of their continual contentions no
business was transacted, passes from the Aventine to the Sacred mount;
Duilius affirming that serious concern for business would not enter the
minds of the patricians, until they saw the city deserted. That the
Sacred mount would remind them of the people's firmness; that they would
then know, that matters could not be restored to concord without the
restoration of (the tribunitian) power. Having set out along the
Nomentan way, which was then called the Ficulnean, they pitched their
camp on the Sacred mount, imitating the moderation of their fathers by
committing no violence. The commons followed the army, no one whose age
would permit him declining to go. Their wives and children attended
their steps, piteously asking to whom would they leave them, in a city
in which neither chastity nor liberty were respected? When the unusual
solitude rendered every place in Rome void; when there was in the forum
no one but a few old men; when, the patricians being convened into the
senate, the forum appeared deserted; more now besides Horatius and
Valerius began to exclaim, "What will ye now wait for, conscript
fathers? If the decemvirs do not put an end to their obstinacy, will ye
suffer all things to go to wreck and ruin? What power is that,
decemvirs, which ye embrace and hold so firmly? do you mean to
administer justice to walls and mere houses? Are you not ashamed that an
almost greater number of your lictors is to be seen in the forum than of
the other citizens? What are ye to do, in case the enemy should approach
the city? What, if the commons should come presently in arms, if we seem
not to be moved by their secession? do you mean to conclude your power
by the fall of the city? But (th