The fathers looked upon him as a weak, popularity-hunting consul, and the people considered him as a deceiver.
And it soon appeared that he was as odious to them as Appius himself.

A dispute had happened between the consuls, as to which should dedicate the temple of Mercury.

The senate referred the affair from themselves to the people, and ordained that to whichsoever of them the dedication should be granted by order of the people, he should preside over the markets, establish a company of merchants, and perform the functions of a pontifex maximus.

The people gave the dedication of the temple to M.
Laetorius, the centurion of the first legion, that it might plainly appear to have been done not so much out of respect to a person on whom an honour above his rank had been conferred, as to affront the consuls.
Upon this one of the consuls particularly, and the senators, were highly incensed.

But the people had acquired courage, and proceeded in a manner quite different from what they had at first intended.