And from this time, both those who had been formerly in confinement were delivered up to their creditors, and others also were taken into custody.

When this happened to a soldier, he appealed to the colleague, and a crowd gathered about Servilius: they represented to him his promises, severally upbraided him with their services in war, and with the scars they had received.

They loudly called upon him to lay the matter before the senate, and that, as consul, he would relieve his fellow citizens, as a general, his soldiers.

These remonstrances affected the consul, but the situation of affairs obliged him to back out; so completely had not only his colleague, but the whole body of the patricians, adopted an entirely opposite course.

And thus, by acting a middle part, he neither escaped the odium of the people, nor gained the favour of the senators.