[3] For the consular elections the time was now approaching, but because the consuls were occupied with the war and it was not thought advisable to call them away, Tiberius Sempronius, the consul, named Gaius Claudius Cento dictator to hold the elections. He in turn named Quintus Fulvius Flaccus master of the horse. [4] On the first day available for elections the dictator announced the choice as consuls of Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, master of the horse, and Appius Claudius Pulcher, who as praetor had had Sicily as his province. [5] Then the following were elected praetors: Gnaeus Fulvius Flaccus, Gaius Claudius Nero, Marcus Junius Silanus, Publius Cornelius Sulla. Having finished the elections, the dictator laid down his office. [6] Curule aedile that year, together with Marcus Cornelius Cethegus, was Publius Cornelius Scipio,2 who was later called Africanus. When he was a candidate for the aedileship, and the tribunes of the plebs tried to oppose him, saying that he ought not to be considered because he did [p. 347]not have the legal age for candidacy, he said, “If all3 the citizens want to make me aedile I have years enough.” [7] Thereupon with such enthusiasm they separated to form by tribes in order to cast their votes, that the tribunes suddenly gave up their attempt. [8] The generosity of the aediles consisted in celebrating the Roman Games4 splendidly, for the resources of that time, and in repeating them for one day; also in giving ... measures5 of oil for each precinct. [9] Lucius Villius Tappulus and Marcus Fundanius Fundulus as plebeian aediles brought before the people charges of immorality against a number of matrons. Some of these being convicted, they drove them into exile. [10] The Plebeian Games were repeated for two days, and on account of the festival a banquet for Jupiter was held.
