n
office. And yet these individuals, overwhelmed and already condemned by
so many decisions against them, presented themselves for trial before
the people; and thought that they were done with the matter, and had
suffered sufficient punishment, because they were reduced to the state
of private citizens two months sooner [than ordinary]: and did not
consider that the power of doing mischief any longer was then taken from
them, that punishment was not inflicted; for that the official power of
their colleagues also had been taken from them who certainly had
committed no fault. That the Roman citizens should resume those
sentiments which they had when the recent disaster was sustained, when
they beheld the army flying in consternation, covered with wounds, and
in dismay pouring into the gates, accusing not fortune nor any of the
gods, but these their commanders. They were certain, that there was not
a man present in the assembly who did not execrate and detest the
persons, families, and fortunes of Lucius Virginius and Manius Sergius.
That it was by no means consistent that now, when it was lawful and
their duty, they should not exert their power against persons, on whom
they had severally imprecated the vengeance of the gods. That the gods
themselves never laid hands on the guilty; it was enough if they armed
the injured with the means of taking revenge."

12. Urged on by these discourses the commons condemn the accused [in a
fine] of ten thousand _asses_ in weight, Sergius in vain throwing the
blame on fortune and the common chance of war, Virginius entreating that
he might not be more unfortunate at home than he had been in the field.
The resentment of the people being turned against them, obliterated the
remembrance of the assumption of the tribunes and of the fraud committed
against the Trebonian law. The victorious tribunes, in order that the
people might reap an immediate benefit from the trial, publish a form of
an agrarian law, and prevent the tax from being contributed, since there
was need of pay for so great a number of troops, and the enterprises of
the service were conducted with success in such a manner, that in none
of the wars did they reach the consummation of their hope. At Veii the
camp which had been lost was recovered and strengthened with forts and a
garrison. Here M. AEmilius and Kaeso Fabius, military tribunes, commanded.
None of the enemy were found outside the walls by Marcus Furius in the
Falisea