5.
Now, whilst the state was busily occupied in building, the tribunes of the commons endeavoured to draw crowds to their [p. 397]harangues by [proposing] the agrarian laws.
[2]
The Promptine territory was then, for the first time since the power of the Volscians had been reduced by Camillus, held out to them as their indisputable right.
[3]
They alleged it as a charge, that “that district was much more harassed on the part of the nobility than it had been on that of the Volscians, for that incursions were made by the one party on it, only as long as they had strength and arms;
[4]
that persons belonging to the nobility encroached on the possession of land that was public, nor would there be any room in it for the commons, unless a division were now made, before they seized on all.”
[5]
They made not much impression on the commons, who through their anxiety for building attended the forum only in small numbers, and were drained by their expenses on the same object, and were therefore careless about land for the improvement of which means were wanting.
[6]
The state being full of religious impressions, and then even the leading men having become superstitious by reason of their recent misfortunes, in order that the auspices might be taken anew, the government had once more recourse to an interregnum.
[7]
The successive interreges were, Marcus Manlius Capitolinus, Servius Sulpicius Camerinus, and Lucius Valerius Potitus. The last at length held an election of military tribunes with consular power. He nominates Lucius Papirius, Caius Cornelius, Caius Sergius, Lucius Aemilius a second time, Lucius Menenius, and Lucius Valerius Publicola a third time.
[8]
These entered on their office after the interregnum. This year the temple of Mars, vowed in the Gallic war, was dedicated by Titus Quinctius, duumvir for performing religious rites. Four tribes were added from the new citizens, the Stellatine, the Tormentine, the Sabatine, and the Arnian, and they made up. the number of twenty-five tribes.
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