1Next Lucius Minucius and Gaius Nautius were made consuls and took over the two issues left over from the previous year. 2In the same way as before, the consuls obstructed the law, the tribunes the trial of Volscius; 3but in the new quaestors there was greater force, greater authority. 3Quaestor with Marcus Valerius, son of Manius and grandson of Volesus, was Titus Quinctius Capitolinus, who had been consul three times. 3Since Caeso could not be restored to the Quinctian family, nor the greatest of the young men to the state, he pursued with a just and righteous war the false witness who had robbed an innocent man of the chance to plead his case.
4When Verginius, above all the tribunes, was pressing the law, a period of two months was granted to the consuls to examine the law, so that, when they had shown the people what hidden trickery was being proposed, they should then let them go to the vote. 4The granting of this interval brought quiet to the city. 5Nor did the Aequi allow a lasting quiet: breaking the treaty that had been struck with the Romans the year before, they confer the command on Gracchus Cloelius; 5he was at that time by far the foremost man among the Aequi. 6Under Gracchus' leadership they come with hostile ravaging into the territory of Labici, then into that of Tusculum, and, laden with booty, pitch camp on Algidus.
6To that camp came envoys from Rome, Quintus Fabius, Publius Volumnius and Aulus Postumius, to complain of the wrongs and to demand restitution under the treaty. 6The commander of the Aequi bids them tell whatever instructions they have from the Roman senate to the oak; 8he would meanwhile attend to other business. 8An oak, a huge tree, overhung the general's tent, and its shade made a dark seat. 8Then one of the envoys said as he departed, 'Let this sacred oak and all the gods there are hear that the treaty has been broken by you, and let them stand by our complaints now and soon by our arms, when we shall avenge the rights of gods and men violated together.' 8When the envoys returned to Rome, the senate ordered one consul to lead an army against Gracchus on Algidus, and assigned to the other as his province the ravaging of the territory of the Aequi.
9The tribunes in their usual way obstructed the levy, and perhaps would have obstructed it to the end; 9but suddenly a new terror was added.