1Then Aulus Verginius and Titus Vetusius enter on the consulship. 1Then indeed the plebs, uncertain what kind of consuls they would have, held meetings by night, some on the Esquiline, some on the Aventine, so that they might not be thrown into confusion by hasty decisions in the forum and do everything rashly and at random. 2The consuls, thinking this dangerous, as it was, report it to the senators, but it was not possible then to debate it in due order; 2so tumultuously was it received, with shouts on every side and the indignation of the senators that the consuls should throw on to the senate the odium for what ought to have been carried out by consular authority.
3Surely, if there were magistrates in the state, there would have been no council at Rome except the public one; 4as it was, the state had been split up and scattered into a thousand senate-houses and assemblies, since some meetings were held on the Esquiline, others on the Aventine. 4One man, by heaven — for that was more than a consul — such as Appius Claudius had been, would have broken up those gatherings in a moment. 5When the consuls, thus rebuked, asked what then the senators wanted them to do, for they would act with no more slackness or softness than the senators pleased, the senators decree that the consuls should hold the levy as rigorously as possible: the plebs was running riot from idleness.
5When the senate had been dismissed, the consuls mount the tribunal; 6they call out the younger men by name. 6When no one answered to his name, the crowd, gathering round as if at an assembly, declared that the plebs could be deceived no longer; 7they would never have a single soldier unless the public pledge were honoured; 7liberty must be given back to each man before arms were given, so that they might fight for their country and their fellow citizens, not for masters. 8The consuls saw what the senate had instructed, but that none of those who talked so fiercely within the walls of the senate-house was present to share in their unpopularity.
8And a fierce struggle with the plebs was clearly at hand. 9So before they tried extreme measures, they decided to consult the senate again. 9Then indeed all the youngest of the senators came flying to the consuls' chairs, bidding them resign the consulship and lay down the authority which they lacked the courage to uphold.