like the decemvirs; and five tribunes of the people being
elected, when, through the zealous exertions of the nine tribunes who
openly pushed their canvass, the other candidates could not make up the
required number of tribes, he dismissed the assembly; nor did he hold
one after for the purpose of an election. He said that he had fulfilled
the law, which without any where specifying the number of tribunes, only
enacted that tribunes should be left; and recommended that colleagues be
chosen by those who had been elected. And he recited the terms of the
law, in which (it is said,) "If I shall propose ten tribunes of the
commons, if you elect this day less than ten tribunes of the people,
then that those whom they may have chosen as colleagues for themselves
be legitimate tribunes of the people, by the same law as those whom you
have this day elected tribunes of the people." When Duilius persevered
to the last, stating that the republic could not have fifteen tribunes
of the people, after baffling the ambition of his colleagues, he
resigned his office, being equally approved by the patricians and
people.

65. The new tribunes of the people in electing their colleagues evinced
a disposition to gratify the wishes of the patricians; they even elected
two who were patricians, and even consulars, Spurius Tarpeius and Aulus
Aterius. The consuls then elected, Largius Herminius, Titus Virginius
Caelimontanus not very much inclined to the cause either of the
patricians or commons, had perfect tranquillity both at home and abroad.
Lucius Trebonius, tribune of the commons, incensed against the
patricians, because, as he said, he was imposed on by them in the affair
of choosing colleagues, and betrayed by his colleagues, carried a
proposal, "that whoever took the votes of the commons in electing
tribunes of the people, he should go on taking the votes, until he
elected ten tribunes of the people;" and he spent his tribuneship in
worrying the patricians, whence the cognomen of Asper was given him.
Next Marcus Geganius Macerinus, and Caius Julius, being elected consuls,
quieted some combinations of the tribunes against the youth of the
nobility, without any harsh proceeding against that power, and still
preserving the dignity of the patricians; by proclaiming a levy for the
war against the Volscians and AEquans, they kept the people from riots by
keeping matters in abeyance; affirming, that every thing was quiet
abroad, there being harm