l; that the state would be free, and the laws
equalized by these means only, if each rank would retain its own rights,
its own dignity." Though much had been said by the other senior
patricians also to the same purpose, all the tribes approved that
proposition. Then for the first time a triumph was celebrated by order
of the people, without the authority of the senate.

64. This victory of the tribunes and people was well nigh terminating in
an extravagance of a by no means salutary tendency, a conspiracy being
formed among the tribunes to have the same tribunes re-elected, and in
order that their ambition might be the less conspicuous, to continue
their office to the consuls. They pleaded, as a cause, the combination
of the patricians by which the privileges of the commons were attempted
to be undermined by the affronts thrown upon the consuls. What would be
the consequence, before the laws are yet firmly established, if consuls
should through their factions attack the new tribunes. For that Horatii
and Valerii would not always be consuls, who would postpone their own
interest to the liberty of the people. By some concurrence of
circumstances, useful at the time, it fell by lot to Marcus Duilius
above any one else to preside at the elections, a man of prudence, and
who perceived the storm of public odium that was hanging over them from
the continuance of their office. And when he stated that he would take
no notice of the former tribunes, and his colleagues strenuously
insisted that he should allow the tribes to be at liberty to vote, or
should give up the office of presiding at the elections to his
colleagues, who would hold the election according to law rather than
according to the pleasure of the patricians; a contention being now
excited, when Duilius had sent for the consuls to his seat and asked
them what they contemplated doing with respect to the consular
elections, and they answered that they would appoint new consuls, having
found popular supporters of a measure by no means popular, he proceeded
with them into the assembly. Where, when the consuls, being brought
forward before the people, and asked, whether if the Roman people,
mindful of their liberty recovered at home through them, mindful also of
their military services, should again elect them consuls, what they
would do, made no change in their sentiments; he held the election,
after eulogizing the consuls, because they persevered to the last in
being un