r a long time past had found no
pretext for exciting disturbances, they run forward into the assembly,
stir up the minds of the commons, saying that "this was the motive for
which pay had been established for the soldiers, nor had it escaped
their knowledge, that such a present from the enemies was tainted with
poison. That the liberty of the commons had been sold; that their youth
removed for ever, and exiled from the city and the republic, did not now
even yield to the winter and to the season of the year, and visit their
homes and private affairs. What could they suppose was the cause for
continuing the service without intermission? That undoubtedly they
should find none other than [the fear] lest any thing might be done in
furtherance of their interests by the attendance of those youths in
whom the entire strength of the commons lay. Besides that they were
harassed and worked much more severely than the Veientians. For the
latter spent the winter beneath their own roofs, defending their city by
strong walls and its natural situation, whilst the Roman soldier, in the
midst of toil and hardship, continued beneath the covering of skins,
overwhelmed with snow and frost, not laying aside his arms even during
the period of winter, which is a respite from all wars by land and sea.
Neither kings, nor those consuls, tyrannical as they were before the
institution of the tribunitian office, nor the stern authority of the
dictator, nor the overbearing decemvirs, ever imposed such slavery as
that they should perform unremitting military service, which degree of
regal power the military tribunes now exercised over the Roman commons.
What would these men have done as consuls or dictators, who have
exhibited the picture of the proconsular office so implacable and
menacing? but that all this happened justly. Among eight military
tribunes there was no room even for one plebeian. Formerly the
patricians filled up three places with the utmost difficulty; now they
went in file eight deep to take possession of the various offices; and
not even in such a crowd is any plebeian intermixed; who, if he did no
other good, might remind his colleagues, that it was freemen and fellow
citizens, and not slaves, that constituted the army, who ought to be
brought back during winter at least to their homes and roofs; and to
come and see at some part of the year their parents, children, and
wives, and to exercise the rights of freedom, and to take part i