The people soon mourned for their friend, and felt that they had been deceived in giving him up to their enemies.

The senate would not execute his law, and the plebeians would not enlist in the next war, though the senate threatened to cut down the fruit trees and destroy the crops of every man who refused to join the army.

When they were absolutely driven into the ranks, they even refused to draw their swords in face of the enemy, and would not gain a victory lest their consul should have the honor of it.
[Illustration: SENATORIAL PALACE.] This consul's name was Kaeso Fabius.

He belonged to a very clever, wary family, whose name it was said was originally _Foveus_ (ditch), because they had first devised a plan of snaring wolves in pits or ditches.

They were thought such excellent defenders of the claims of the patricians that for seven years following one or other of the Fabii was chosen consul.