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 chap, xliv] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 477 eight votes were assigned, and only ninety-five were left for the six inferior classes, distributed according to their substance by the artful policy of Servius. But the tribunes soon established a more specious and popular maxim, that every citizen has an equal right to enact the laws which he is bound to obey. Instead of the centuries, they convened the tribes; and the patricians, after an impotent struggle, submitted to the decrees of an assembly in which their votes were confounded with those of the meanest plebeians. Yet, as long as the tribes successively passed over narrow bridges?* and gave their voices aloud, the conduct of each citizen was exposed to the eyes and ears of his friends and countrymen. The insolvent debtor con- sulted the wishes of his creditor ; the client would have blushed to oppose the views of his patron ; the general was followed by his veterans ; and the aspect of a grave magistrate was a living lesson to the multitude. A new method of secret ballot abolished the influence of fear and shame, of honour and in- terest, and the abuse of freedom accelerated the progress of anarchy and despotism.' 29 The Komans had aspired to be equal ; they were levelled by the equality of servitude ; and the dic- tates of Augustus were patiently ratified by the formal consent of the tribes or centuries. Once, and once only, he experienced a sincere and strenuous opposition. His subjects had resigned all political liberty ; they defended the freedom of domestic life. A law which enforced the obligation, and strengthened the bonds, of marriage was clamorously rejected ; Propertius, in the arms of Delia, applauded the victory of licentious love ; and the pro- jag, cyn- ject of reform was suspended till a new and more tractable thla generation had arisen in the world. 30 Such an example was not necessary to instruct a prudent usurper of the mischief of popular assemblies ; and their abolition, which Augustus had silently prepared, was accomplished without resistance, and almost with- out notice, on the accession of his successor. 31 Sixty thousand 28 Consult the common writers on the Roman Comitia, especially Sigoniua and Beaufort. Spanheim (de Preestantia et Usu Numismatum, torn. ii. dissert, x. p. 192, 193) shews, on a curious medal, the Gista, Pontes, Septa, Diribitor, &o. 29 Cicero (de Legibus, iii. 16, 17, 18) debates this constitutional question, and assigns to his brother Quintus the most unpopular side. 30 Pree tumultu recusantium perferre non potuit (Sueton. in August, c. 34). See Propertius, 1. ii. eleg. 6. Heineccius in a separate history has exhausted the whole subject of the Julian and Papian-Popptean laws (Opp. torn. vii. P. i. p. 1- 479). al Tacit. Annal. i. 15. Lipsius, Excursus E. in Taciturn.