1After it was announced that arms were being laid down and men were leaving their posts, Publius Valerius, while his colleague kept the senate in session, hurries out of the senate house and from there comes to the tribunes in the sacred precinct. 2'What is the meaning of this,' he said, 'tribunes? 2Are you going to overthrow the republic under the leadership and auspices of Appius Herdonius? 2Has he, who as instigator failed to stir up the slaves, been so successful in corrupting you? 2When the enemy is above our heads, do you think fit to leave your arms and pass laws?' 3Then, turning his speech to the multitude: 'If no concern for the city, Quirites, if none for yourselves touches you, then at least fear your gods, who have been captured by the enemy.
3Jupiter Best and Greatest, Queen Juno and Minerva, and other gods and goddesses are under siege; 3a camp of slaves holds the household gods of your state; 4does this seem to you the shape of a healthy state? 4So great a host of enemies is not only within the walls but in the citadel, above the Forum and the senate house; 4meanwhile an assembly is being held in the Forum, the senate is in the senate house; 4as when peace is abundant, the senator states his opinion, the other Quirites go to the vote. 5Ought not everyone, whatever there is of senators and plebs, consuls, tribunes, gods and men, to have brought help under arms, to have run to the Capitol, to have freed and restored to peace that most august house of Jupiter Best and Greatest?
6Father Romulus, give your offspring that resolve of yours by which you once recovered the citadel from these same Sabines when it had been captured with gold; 6bid them enter upon this road which you as leader, which your army entered upon! 6See, I as consul will be the first to follow you and your footsteps, as far as a mortal can follow a god.' 7The end of his speech was that he was taking up arms and calling all the Quirites to arms. 7If anyone hindered him, he would, forgetting now consular authority, forgetting tribunician power and the sacred laws, treat him as an enemy, whoever he was and wherever he was, on the Capitol or in the Forum.
7Let the tribunes order arms to be taken up against Publius Valerius the consul, since they forbade it against Appius Herdonius; 8he would dare against tribunes what the founder of his family had dared against kings. 9It was clear that it would come to the utmost violence, and that Roman sedition would be a spectacle for the enemy. 9Yet neither could the law be passed nor the consul go to the Capitol. 9Night smothered the struggles that had begun. 9The tribunes gave way to the night, fearing the consuls' arms. 10Then, with the instigators of the sedition out of the way, the senators went round among the plebs and, joining the groups, started conversations suited to the moment, warning them to see into what danger they were bringing the state: the struggle was not between senators and plebs, but senators and plebs together, the citadel of the city, the temples of the gods, the public and private household gods, were being handed over to the enemy.
12While these things were being done in the Forum to calm the discord, the consuls meanwhile had gone off round the gates and the walls, in case the Sabines or the enemy from Veii should make a move.