es not being conceded to them. This sense of
annoyance they both manifested at the nomination of quaestors, and
avenged by then electing plebeians for the first time as quaestors; so
that in electing four, room was left for only one patrician; whilst
three plebeians, Quintus Silius, Publius Aelius, and Publius Pupius,
were preferred to young men of the most illustrious families. I learn
that the principal advisers of the people, in this so independent a
bestowing of their suffrage, were the Icilii, three out of this family
most hostile to the patricians having been elected tribunes of the
commons for that year, by their holding out the grand prospect of many
and great achievements to the people, who became consequently most
ardent; after they had affirmed that they would not stir a step, if the
people would not, even at the election of quaestors, the only one which
the senate had left open to the commons and patricians, evince
sufficient spirit to accomplish that which they had so long wished for,
and which was allowed by the laws. This therefore the people considered
an important victory; and that quaestorship they estimated not by the
extent of the honour itself; but an access seemed opened to new men to
the consulship and the honours of a triumph. The patricians, on the
other hand, expressed their indignation not so much at the honours of
the state being shared, but at their being lost; they said that, "if
matters be so, children need no longer be educated; who being driven
from the station of their ancestors, and seeing others in the possession
of their dignity, would be left without command or power, as mere salii
and flamens, with no other employment than to offer sacrifices for the
people." The minds of both parties being irritated, since the commons
had both assumed new courage, and had now three leaders of the most
distinguished reputation for the popular side; the patricians seeing
that the result of all the elections would be similar to that for
quaestors, wherever the people had the choice from both sides, strove
vigorously for the election of consuls, which was not yet open to them.
The Icilii, on the contrary, said that military tribunes should be
elected, and that posts of honour should be at length imparted to the
commons.

55. But the consuls had no proceeding on hand, by opposing which they
could extort that which they desired; when by an extraordinary and
favourable occurrence an account is brought th