, that whatever disgrace or loss had either been
already sustained or hung over them from the enemy, the blame of it
would be imputed to Maenius, who hindered the levy; Maenius, on the other
hand, exclaiming "that if the unjust occupiers would yield up possession
of the public land, he would cause no delay to the levy:" the nine
tribunes interposing a decree, put an end to the contest; and they
proclaimed as the determination of their college, "that they would, for
the purposes of the levy, in opposition to the protest of their
colleague, afford their aid to Caius Valerius the consul in inflicting
fines and other penalties on those who refused to enlist." When the
consul, armed with this decree, ordered into prison a few who appealed
to the tribune, the rest took the military oath from fear. The army was
marched to the citadel of Carventa, and though hated by and disliking
the consul, they on their first arrival recovered the citadel in a
spirited manner, having dislodged those who were protecting it; some in
quest of plunder having straggled away through carelessness from the
garrison, afforded an opportunity for attacking them. There was
considerable booty from the constant devastations, because all had been
collected into a safe place. This the consul ordered the quaestors to
sell by auction and carry it into the treasury, declaring that the army
should then participate in the booty, when they had not declined the
service. The exasperation of the commons and soldiers against the consul
was then augmented. Accordingly, when by a decree of the senate the
consul entered the city in an ovation, rude verses in couplets were
thrown out with military licence; in which the consul was severely
handled, whilst the name of Maenius was cried up with encomiums, when at
every mention of the tribune the attachment of the surrounding people
vied by their applause and commendation with the loud praises of the
soldiers. And that circumstance occasioned more anxiety to the
patricians, than the wanton raillery of the soldiers against the
consul, which was in a manner a usual thing; and the election of Maenius
among the military tribunes being deemed as no longer questionable, if
he should become a candidate, he was kept out of it by an election for
consuls being appointed.

54. Cneius Cornelius Cossus and Lucius Furius Medullinus were elected
consuls. The commons were not on any other occasion more dissatisfied at
the election of tribun