he commons, that
though tribunes of the soldiers, with consular authority, were now
appointed for so many years, no plebeian ever obtained access to that
honour. That their ancestors had shown much foresight in providing that
plebeian offices should not be open to any patrician; otherwise they
should be forced to have patricians as tribunes of the commons; so
despicable were they even with their own party, and were not less
despised by the commons than by the patricians." Others exculpated the
commons, and threw the blame on the patricians,--"that by their
intriguing and schemes it happened that the road to honour was barred
against the commons. If the commons were allowed to breathe from their
mixed entreaties and menaces, that they would enter on their suffrages
with a due regard to men of their own party; and, assistance being
already procured, that they would assume a share in the government
also." It is determined that, for the purpose of doing away with all
intriguing, the tribunes should propose a law, that no person be allowed
to add white to his garment for the purposes of canvassing. The matter
may now appear trivial and scarcely deserving serious consideration,
which then enkindled such strife between the patricians and commons. The
tribunes, however, prevailed in carrying the law; and it appeared
evident, that in their present state of irritation, the commons would
incline their support to men of their own party; and lest this should be
optional with them, a decree of the senate is passed, that the election
for consuls should be held.

26. The cause was the rising, which the Hernicians and Latins announced
as about to take place on the part of the AEquans and Volscians. Titus
Quintius Cincinnatus, son of Lucius, (to the same person the cognomen of
Pennus also is annexed,) and Caius Julius Mento were elected consuls:
nor was the terror of war longer deferred. A levy being held under the
devoting law, which with them is the most powerful instrument of forcing
men into service, powerful armies set out from thence, and met at
Algidum; and there the AEquans and Volscians fortified their camps
separately; and the general took greater care than ever before to
fortify their posts and train their soldiers; so much the more terror
did the messengers bring to Rome. The senate wished that a dictator
should be appointed, because though these nations had been often
conquered, yet they renewed hostilities with more vigorou