r power were Appius
Claudius Crassus, Spurius Nautilus Rutilus, Lucius Sergius Fidenas,
Sextus Julius Iulus. The exhibition, besides that they had come with the
public concurrence of their states, was rendered still more grateful to
the strangers by the courtesy of their hosts. After the games seditious
harangues were delivered by the tribunes of the commons upbraiding the
multitude; "that stupified with admiration of those persons whom they
hated, they kept themselves in a state of eternal bondage; and they not
only had not the courage to aspire to the recovery of their hopes of a
share in the consulship, but even in the electing of military tribunes,
which elections lay open to both patricians and commons, they neither
thought of themselves nor of their party. That they must therefore cease
feeling surprised why no one busied himself about the interests of the
commons: that labour and danger would be expended on objects whence
emolument and honour might be expected. That there was nothing men would
not attempt if great rewards were proposed for those who make great
attempts. That any tribune of the commons should rush blindly at great
risk and with no advantage into contentions, in consequence of which he
may rest satisfied that the patricians against whom he should strive,
will persecute him with inexpiable war, whilst with the commons in whose
behalf he may have contended he will not be one whit the more honoured,
was a thing neither to be expected nor required. That by great honours
minds became great. That no plebeian would think meanly of himself, when
they ceased to be despised by others. That the experiment should be at
length made in the case of one or two, whether there were any plebeian
capable of sustaining a high dignity, or whether it were next to a
miracle and a prodigy that any one sprung from the commons should be a
brave and industrious man. That by the utmost energy the point had been
gained, that military tribunes with consular power might be chosen from
among the commons also. That men well approved both in the civil and
military line had stood as candidates. That during the first years they
were hooted at, rejected, and ridiculed by the patricians: that at
length they had ceased to expose themselves to insult. Nor did he for
his part see why the law itself might not be repealed; by which that was
made lawful which never could take place; for that there would be less
cause for blushing at the injusti