y speaking than
of a tenth; since each man bound himself in his private capacity by it,
the public was set free. However, that his conscience would not permit
him to pass this over in silence, that out of that spoil only which
consisted of movable effects, a tenth was set apart; that no mention was
made of the city and captured land, which were also included in the
vow." As the discussion of this point seemed difficult to the senate, it
was referred to the pontiffs; Camillus being invited [to the council],
the college decided, that whatever had belonged to the Veientians before
the uttering of the vow, and had come into the power of the Roman people
after the vow was made, of that a tenth part was sacred to Apollo. Thus
the city and land were brought into the estimate. The money was issued
from the treasury, and the consular tribunes of the soldiers were
commissioned to purchase gold with it. And when there was not a
sufficient quantity of this [metal], the matrons having held meetings to
deliberate on the subject, and by a general resolution having promised
the military tribunes their gold and all their ornaments, brought them
into the treasury. This circumstance was peculiarly grateful to the
senate, and they say that in return for this generosity the honour was
conferred on the matrons, that they might use covered chariots [when
going] to public worship and the games, and open chaises on festival and
common days. A certain weight of gold being received from each and
valued, in order that the price might be paid for it, it was resolved
that a golden bowl should be made of it, which was to be carried to
Delphos as an offering to Apollo. As soon as they disengaged their minds
from the religious obligation, the tribunes of the commons renew their
seditious practices; the populace are excited against all the nobles,
but above all against Camillus: that "he by confiscating and
consecrating the plunder of Veii had reduced it to nothing." The absent
[nobles] they abuse in violent terms: they evince a respect for them in
their presence, when they voluntarily presented themselves to their
fury. As soon as they perceived that the business would be protracted
beyond that year, they re-elect as tribunes of the commons for the
following year the same abettors of the law; and the patricians strove
to accomplish the same thing with respect to those who were opponents of
the law. Thus the same persons in a great measure were re-elected