Page:The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 1 (1890).djvu/144

 APPIUS CLAUDIUS

armes aflaile vs? Will ye finifhe your gouernement, with the ouerthrowe of the citie : But either wee muft expell and abandon the people, or els wee muft admitte the Tribunes. We fhall soner wante our Fathers and Senatours, then they their plebeian officers. They bereued and toke awaye from vs the fathers a newe kinde of authoritie, which was neuer fene besore, who now feeling the fweetneffe thereof, will neuer geue it ouer. for we can not so well temper our authoritie and gouernement, as they be able to seke helpe and fuccour." The Decemuiri perceiuing that they were hated, so well of the Senate, as of the people, fubmitted them- selues. And therupon Valerius and Horatius were sent to the campe, to reuoke the people vpon suche conditions as they thought moste meete. Then the Decemuiri were commaunded, to take heede of the peoples furie. So sone as the Commiffioners were come to the campe, they were received with great ioye and glad- nefle of the people, because they were the beginners of that fturre, and supposed that they would make an ende of the commocion, for whiche cause they rendred to them their humble thankes. Then Icilius was appointed to fpeake for the people, who required to haue the authoritie of the Tribunes restored, and their appeale renewed, with restitution of those lawes, which besore the erection of the Decemuiri, were ratified and confirmed. They demaunded also an impunitie and free pardon to those that firste encouraged and incited the Souldiers to that enterprife, and the restoring of their liberties. They required to haue their enemies the Decemuiri, to be deliuered into their handes. Whom they threatened to put to death by fire. Whereunto the Commiffioners aunswered in this wife : "Your requestes bee so reasonable, that they ought willingly to be graunted. All which ye desire to obtaine, as a defence and comsort for your libertie, and not to perfecute and infefte others. Your furie and anger ought rather to be pardoned, then permitted or graunted. Yee beare a face and feeme to deteft and hate feue- ritie, and ye your selues incurre, and runne headlong into all kinde of crueltie : and besore ye be made free your selues, ye desire to bee Lordes ouer your aduersaries. Shall our citie neuer bee voide of tortures and oppreffions: sometime of the fathers towardes the people, sometime of the people towardes the fathers : you had more

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