s about to be proposed: and dispersing themselves through the
tribes, each earnestly appealing to the members of their own tribe,
began to entreat them with tears "not to desert that country for which
they themselves and their fathers had fought most valiantly and
successfully," pointing to the Capitol, the temple of Vesta, and the
other temples of the gods around; "not to drive the Roman people, exiles
and outcasts, from their native soil and household gods into the city of
the enemy; and not to bring matters to such a state, that it was better
that Veii were not taken, lest Rome should be deserted." Because they
proceeded not by violence, but by entreaties, and in the midst of these
entreaties frequent mention was [made] of the gods, the greatest part
[of the people] were influenced by religious scruples: and more tribes
by one rejected the law than voted for it. And so gratifying was this
victory to the patricians, that on the following day, on a motion made
by the consuls, a decree of the senate was passed, that seven acres a
man of Veientian territory should be distributed to the commons; and not
only to the fathers of families, but so that all persons in their house
in a state of freedom should be considered, and that they might be
willing to rear up their children with that prospect.

31. The commons being won over by such a boon, no opposition was made to
holding the elections for consuls. Lucius Valerius Potitus, and Marcus
Manlius, who afterwards obtained the surname of Capitolinus, were
elected consuls. These consuls celebrated the great games which Marcus
Furius, when dictator, had vowed in the Veientian war. In the same year
the temple of imperial Juno, vowed by the same dictator and during the
same war, is dedicated; and they state that the dedication was attended
with great zeal by the matrons. A war scarcely worth mentioning was
waged with the AEquans at Algidum, the enemies taking to flight almost
before they commenced the fight. To Valerius, because he was more
persevering in slaughtering them in their flight, a triumph was granted;
it was decreed that Manlius should enter the city with an ovation. The
same year a new war broke out with the Volsinians; whither an army could
not be led, on account of a famine and pestilence in the Roman
territories, which arose from drought and excessive heat; on account of
which the Volsinians forming a junction with the Salpinians, being
elated with pride, made an unpr