ccasion. The
plebeian tribunes, overjoyed at the dissension among the patricians,
said, "that there was no support in persons who were not held in the
rank of citizens, nor even of human beings; if ever the posts of honour
were open, and the administration of government were shared, that they
should then see that the decrees of the senate should not be invalidated
by the arrogance of magistrates; that in the mean while, the patricians,
unrestrained as they were by respect for laws or magistrates, must
manage the tribunitian office also by themselves."

57. This contention occupied men's thoughts at a most unseasonable time,
when a war of such importance was on hand: until when Julius and
Cornelius descanted for a long time by turns, on "how unjust it was that
a post of honour conferred on them by the people was now to be wrested
from them, since they were generals sufficiently qualified to conduct
that war." Then Ahala Servilius, military tribune, says, "that he had
remained silent for so long a time, not because he was uncertain as to
his opinion, (for what good citizen can separate his own interests from
those of the public,) but because he wished that his colleagues should
of their own accord yield to the authority of the senate, rather than
suffer the tribunitian power to be suppliantly appealed to against them.
That even then, if circumstances permitted, he would still give them
time to retract an opinion too pertinaciously adhered to. But since the
exigences of war do not await the counsels of men, that the public weal
was of deeper importance to him than the good will of his colleagues,
and if the senate continued in the same sentiments, he would, on the
following night, nominate a dictator; and if any one protested against a
decree of the senate being passed, that he would be content with its
authority."[158] When by this conduct he bore away the well-merited
praises and good will of all, having named Publius Cornelius dictator,
he himself being appointed by him as master of the horse, served as an
instance to those who considered his case and that of his colleagues,
how much more attainable public favour and honour sometimes were to
those who evinced no desire for them. The war was in no respect a
memorable one. The enemy were beaten at Antium in one, and that an easy
battle; the victorious army laid waste the Volscian territory; their
fort at the lake Fucinus was taken by storm, and in it three thousand
men ma