Pagina:Second Latin reading book With Key.pdf/22

The Early Days of the Republic.

20.—Iam supra demonstravimus consules creatos esse post exactos reges: hi patribus praeerant et exercitus adversus hostes ducebant. Maior inde patrum auctoritas haberi coepta,^[1] cum magistratum annuum obirent consules, ipsi vero quotannis in curiam deliberandi caussa adirent. Neque plebes diutius sperni poterat, quae per centurias, pro ut armatus^[2] erat quisque, comitia^[3] frequentabat, magistratusque creabat. Consules plerumque quotannis creabantur: sed maiore aliquo periculo orto, dictator civitati praeficiebatur, qui summo imperio uteretur.^[4] Neque autem fieri potuit quin clade afficeretur^[5] iam nascens respublica post tantam rerum commutationem. Vastari primo ab hostibus Romanorum fines; inde opprimi plebes aere alieno. Intercedebant etiam plebi cum patribus simultates, cum patres infortunia plebeiorum in sua commoda vertere constaret.

The Fabii undertake the War against Veii.

21.—Veientes fines Romanorum populabantur. Tum Fabia gens senatum adit. Consul pro gente loquitur: Assiduo^[6] magis quam magno praesidio, ut scitis, patres conscripti,^[7] bellum Veiens eget. Vos alia bella curate. Fabios hostes Veientibus date. Gratiae ingentes actae. Consul e curia egressus, comitante Fabiorum agmine, qui in vestibulo curiae, senatus consultum exspectantes steterant, domum redit. Iussi armati postero die ad limen consulis adesse, domos inde discedunt. Manat tota urbe rumor. Fabios ad coelum laudibus ferunt. Fabii postero die arma capiunt; quo^[8] iussi erant conveniunt. Consul paludatus egrediens, in vestibulo gentem omnem suam instructo agmine videt: acceptus in medium, signa ferri iubet.^[9] Nunquam exercitus neque minor numero,^[10] neque clarior fama et admiratione hominum per urbem incessit.

1. coepta—11, note.
2. armatus—the people in their centuries had certain arms assigned to each class, so that it was a military as well as a civil classification.
3. comitia—the assemblies of the people for electing magistrates (cum—eo). There were three varieties of the comitia:
   1. Curiata: of the old noble families in their curiae, the aristocratic classification.
   2. Centuriata: of the people in their centuries or classes according to their property.
   3. Tributa: of the people in their tribes.
4. qui uteretur—2, note.
5. neque autem—afficeretur—‘it was inevitable that … should be visited with loss.’ 16, note.
6. assiduo—‘constant.’
7. patres conscripti—‘Conscript Fathers,’ properly patres et conscripti, the old Senators and the new.
8. quo—‘to the place whither.’
9. signa ferri iubet—’gives the order to march.’
10. numero—abl. of respect.