17.] [Footnote 118: In the original the words are, _Medio decreto jus auxilii sui expediunt_.

The tribunes were afraid lest, if they allowed Caeso to go entirely at large, the commons might become irritated; whilst if they refused to listen to the application of a patrician when he craved their assistance, they feared lest they should lose an excellent opportunity of establishing their influence and increasing their power.

By adopting a line of conduct then which conceded something both to the commons and to Caeso, they as it were _extricate_ (expediunt) their power from this double danger.] [Footnote 119: _Vadis publicos_.

According to Gronovius, _publico_, scil._plebi_.Niebuhr prefers this reading.] [Footnote 120: _Rigorously exacted_.

See Niebuhr ii.p.289, who expresses a different opinion on the matter.] 14.