Liv. 2.18.1Īnsequēns annus Postumum Cominium et T. Larcium cōnsulēs habuit.The following year had Postumus Cominius and Titus Larcius as consuls. Liv. 2.18.2Eō annō Rōmae, cum per lūdōs ab Sabīnōrum iuventūte per lascīviam scorta raperentur, concursū hominum rixa ac prope proelium fuit, parvāque ex rē ad rebelliōnem spectāre rēs vidēbātur.In that year at Rome, when during the games some courtesans were carried off by young Sabines in a spirit of wantonness, a crowd gathered and there was a brawl and almost a battle, and from a small matter the affair seemed to be leading towards a renewal of war. Liv. 2.18.2Super bellī Latīnī metum id quoque accesserat, quod trīgintā iam coniūrāsse populōs concitante Octāviō Mamiliō satis cōnstābat.On top of the fear of a Latin war, this too had been added, that it was well established that thirty peoples had now conspired together at the instigation of Octavius Mamilius. Liv. 2.18.4In hāc tantārum expectātiōne rērum sollicitā cīvitāte dictātōris prīmum creandī mentiō orta.While the state was anxious in its expectation of such great events, the appointment of a dictator was mentioned for the first time.
Liv. 2.18.4Sed nec quō annō, nec quibus cōnsulibus, quia ex factiōne Tarquiniānā essent — id quoque enim trāditur — , parum crēditum sit, nec quis prīmum dictātor creātus sit, satis cōnstat.But it is not well established in what year, nor under which consuls — who were distrusted because they belonged to the Tarquinian faction, for this too is reported — nor who was first appointed dictator. Liv. 2.18.5Apud veterrimōs tamen auctōrēs T. Larcium dictātōrem prīmum, Sp. Cassium magistrum equitum creātōs inveniō.In the oldest authorities, however, I find that Titus Larcius was appointed the first dictator and Spurius Cassius master of the horse. Liv. 2.18.5Cōnsulārēs legere: ita lēx iubēbat dē dictātōre creandō lāta.They chose men of consular rank: so the law passed about appointing a dictator required. Liv. 2.18.6Eō magis addūcor, ut crēdam Larcium, quī cōnsulāris erat, potius quam M." Valerium M. fīlium Volesī nepōtem, quī nōndum cōnsul fuerat, moderātōrem et magistrum cōnsulibus appositum;I am all the more inclined to believe that Larcius, who was of consular rank, rather than Marcus Valerius, son of Marcus and grandson of Volesus, who had not yet been consul, was set over the consuls as their director and master; Liv. 2.18.7quīn, sī maximē ex eā familiā legī dictātōrem vellent, patrem multō potius M. Valerium spectātae virtūtis et cōnsulārem virum lēgissent.indeed, if they had particularly wanted a dictator to be chosen from that family, they would much rather have chosen the father, Marcus Valerius, a man of proven courage and of consular rank.
Liv. 2.18.8Creātō dictātōre prīmum Rōmae, postquam praeferrī secūrēs vīdērunt, magnus plēbem metus incessit, ut intentiōrēs essent ad dictō pārendum.When a dictator had been appointed at Rome for the first time and they saw the axes carried before him, great fear came upon the plebs, so that they were more attentive in obeying orders. Liv. 2.18.8Neque enim, ut in cōnsulibus, quī parī potestāte essent, alterīus auxilium, neque prōvocātiō erat neque ūllum usquam nisi in cūrā pārendī auxilium.For there was not, as with the consuls, who had equal power, the help of one against the other, nor was there any appeal, nor any help anywhere except in careful obedience. Liv. 2.18.9Sabīnīs etiam creātus Rōmae dictātor eō magis, quod propter sē creātum crēdiderant, metum incussit.The appointment of a dictator at Rome struck fear into the Sabines too, all the more because they believed he had been appointed on their account. Liv. 2.18.9Itaque lēgātōs dē pāce mittunt.And so they send envoys to ask for peace. Liv. 2.18.10Quibus ōrantibus dictātōrem senātumque, ut veniam errōris hominibus adulēscentibus darent, respōnsum, ignōscī adulēscentibus posse, senibus nōn posse, quī bella ex bellīs sererent.When these begged the dictator and the senate to pardon the error of young men, the answer was that young men could be forgiven, but not old men, who sowed wars out of wars.
Liv. 2.18.10Āctum tamen est dē pāce, inpetrātaque foret, sī, quod inpēnsae factum in bellum erat, praestāre Sabīnī — id enim postulātum erat — in animum indūxissent.Still, peace was discussed, and it would have been obtained if the Sabines had brought themselves to make good what had been spent on the war — for that had been demanded. Liv. 2.18.11Bellum indictum;War was declared; Liv. 2.18.11tacitae indūtiae quiētum annum tenuēre.a tacit truce kept the year quiet.