Livy's History of Rome - Table of Contents

[2.22]The relations with the Volscians during the Latin war were neither friendly nor openly hostile. The Volscians had
collected a force which they were intending to send to the aid of the Latins had not the Dictator forestalled them by the
rapidity of his movements, a rapidity due to his anxiety to avoid a battle with the combined armies. To punish them the
consuls led the legions into the Volscian country. This unexpected movement paralysed the Volscians, who were not
expecting retribution for what had been only an intention. Unable to offer resistance, they gave as hostages three hundred
children belonging to their nobility, drawn from Cora and Pometia. The legions, accordingly, were marched back without
fighting. Relieved from the immediate danger, the Volscians soon fell back on their old policy, and after forming an armed
alliance with the Hernicans, made secret preparations for war. They also despatched envoys through the length and breadth
of Latium to induce that nation to join them. But after their defeat at Lake Regillus the Latins were so incensed against
every one who advocated a resumption of hostilities that they did not even spare the Volscian envoys, who were arrested
and conducted to Rome. There they were handed over to the consuls and evidence was produced showing that the
Volscians and Hernicans were preparing for war with Rome. When the matter was brought before the senate, they were so
gratified by the action of the Latins that they sent back six thousand prisoners who had been sold into slavery, and also
referred to the new magistrates the question of a treaty which they had hitherto persistently refused to consider. The Latins
congratulated themselves upon the course they had adopted, and the advocates of peace were in high honour. They sent a
golden crown as a gift to the Capitoline Jupiter. The deputation who brought the gift were accompanied by a large number
of the released prisoners, who visited the houses where they had worked as slaves to thank their former masters for the
kindness and consideration shown them in their misfortunes, and to form ties of hospitality with them. At no previous
period had the Latin nation been on more friendly terms both politically and personally with the Roman government.
[2.23]But a war with the Volscians was imminent, and the State was torn with internal dissensions; the patricians and the
plebeians were bitterly hostile to one another, owing mainly to the desperate condition of the debtors. They loudly
complained that whilst fighting in the field for liberty and empire they were oppressed and enslaved by their fellowcitizens
at home; their freedom was more secure in war than in peace, safer amongst the enemy than amongst their own
people. The discontent, which was becoming of itself continually more embittered, was still further inflamed by the signal
misfortunes of one individual. An old man, bearing visible proofs of all the evils he had suffered, suddenly appeared in the
Forum. His clothing was covered with filth, his personal appearance was made still more loathsome by a corpse-like pallor
and emaciation, his unkempt beard and hair made him look like a savage. In spite of this disfigurement he was recognised
by the pitying bystanders; they said that he had been a centurion, and mentioned other military distinctions he possessed.
He bared his breast and showed the scars which witnessed to many fights in which he had borne an honourable part. The
crowd had now almost grown to the dimensions of an Assembly of the people. He was asked, "Whence came that garb,
whence that disfigurement?" He stated that whilst serving in the Sabine war he had not only lost the produce of his land
through the depredations of the enemy, but his farm had been burnt, all his property plundered, his cattle driven away, the
war-tax demanded when he was least able to pay it, and he had got into debt. This debt had been vastly increased through
usury and had stripped him first of his father's and grandfather's farm, then of his other property, and at last like a
pestilence had reached his person. He had been carried off by his creditor, not into slavery only, but into an underground
workshop, a living death. Then he showed his back scored with recent marks of the lash.
On seeing and hearing all this a great outcry arose; the excitement was not confined to the Forum, it spread everywhere
throughout the City. Men who were in bondage for debt and those who had been released rushed from all sides into the
public streets and invoked "the protection of the Quirites." Every one was eager to join the malcontents, numerous bodies
ran shouting through all the streets to the Forum. Those of the senators who happened to be in the Forum and fell in with
the mob were in great danger of their lives. Open violence would have been resorted to, had not the consuls, P. Servilius
and Ap. Claudius, promptly intervened to quell the outbreak. The crowd surged round them, showed their chains and other
marks of degradation. These, they said, were their rewards for having served their country; they tauntingly reminded the
consuls of the various campaigns in which they had fought, and peremptorily demanded rather than petitioned that the
senate should be called together. Then they closed round the Senate-house, determined to be themselves the arbiters and
directors of public policy. A very small number of senators, who happened to be available, were got together by the
consuls, the rest were afraid to go even to the Forum, much more to the Senate-house. No business could be transacted
owing to the requisite number not being present. The people began to think that they were being played with and put off,
that the absent senators were not kept away by accident or by fear, but in order to prevent any redress of their grievances,
and that the consuls themselves were shuffling and laughing at their misery. Matters were reaching the point at which not
even the majesty of the consuls could keep the enraged people in check, when the absentees, uncertain whether they ran
the greater risk by staying away or coming, at last entered the Senate-house. The House was now full, and a division of