terest by an improper feeling of
delicacy."

72. The consuls, when they perceived that Scaptius was listened to not
only in silence, but even with approbation, appealing to gods and men,
that an enormous and disgraceful act was being committed, send for the
principal senators: with these they went around to the tribunes;
entreated, "that, as judges, they would not be guilty of a most heinous
crime, with a still worse precedent, by converting the dispute to their
own interest, more especially when, even though it may be lawful for a
judge to protect his own emolument, so much would by no means be
acquired by keeping the land, as would be lost by alienating the
affections of their allies by injustice; for that the losses of
character and of reputation were greater than could be estimated. Were
the ambassadors to carry home this answer; was this to go out to the
world; were their allies to hear this; were their enemies to hear
it--with what sorrow the one--with what joy the other party? Could they
suppose, that the neighbouring states would impute this proceeding to
Scaptius, an old babbler at assemblies? that Scaptius would be rendered
distinguished by this statue: that the Roman people would assume the
character of a usurper and intercepter of the claims of others. For what
judge in a private cause ever acted in this way, so as to adjudge to
himself the property in dispute? That even Scaptius himself would not
act so, though he has now outlived all sense of shame." Thus the
consuls, thus the senators exclaimed; but covetousness, and Scaptius,
the adviser of that covetousness, had more influence. The tribes, when
convened, decided that the district was the public property of the Roman
people. Nor is it denied that it might have been so, if they had gone to
other judges; now the disgrace of the decision is certainly not at all
diminished by the fairness of the title: nor did it appear more
disgraceful or more hideous to the people of Aricia and of Ardea, than
it did to the Roman senate. The remainder of the year continued free
from either city or foreign commotions.

BOOK IV.

_A law was passed concerning the intermarriage of the patricians
and plebeians, after strong resistance on the part of the
patricians. Military tribunes with consular power. Censors created.
Restoration of the lands unjustly taken from the people of Ardea.
Spurius Melius, suspected of aiming at regal power, is slai