5.
And now, while the citizens were taken up
1 with building, the tribunes of the plebs were trying to attract crowds to their meetings by proposals for agrarian laws.
[
2]
They held out hopes of the Pomptine district, of which the Romans had then for the first time —since the defeat inflicted on the Volsci by Camillus —acquired undisputed control.
[
3]
The tribunes brought the charge that this district was worse plagued by the nobility than it had been by the Volsci; for the latter, as long as they were strong enough and had arms, had done no more than make incursions into it;
[
4]
but the nobles were taking violent possession of the public domain, and unless it should be parcelled out before they seized it all, there would be no room there for the commons.
[
5]
They made no great impression on the plebs, who were seldom in the Forum, because they were so intent on building, and, exhausted with the expense thereby incurred, had no thought of land, which they lacked the means of stocking.
[6]
The citizens were much given to religious fears, and at that time, owing to the recent calamity, even the leaders were a prey to superstition; so, in order that new auspices might be had, the state went into an interregnum.
[7]
The office of interrex was successively held by Marcus Manlius Capitolinus, Servius Sulpicius Camerinus, and Lucius Valerius Potitus. Finally, the last-named held an election of military tribunes and announced that the choice had fallen on Lucius Papirius, Gaius Cornelius, Gaius Sergius, Lucius Aemilius (for the second time), Lucius [p. 213]Menenius and Lucius Valerius Publicola (for the2 third time). These men took office at the conclusion of the interregnum.
[8]
In that year the temple of Mars vowed in the Gallic war was dedicated by Titus Quinctius, duumvir for sacrifices.3 Four additional tribes were formed out of the new citizens, the Stellatina, Tromentina, Sabatina, and Arniensis; these filled up the number of tribes to twenty-five.
