How great the danger from those states would have been, had they known that the Capitol was besieged by exiles, it is better to conjecture from the past, than to feel from actual experience." [Footnote 125: The consuls under ordinary circumstances used to commence their office at this time on the Calends of August.] [Footnote 126: _Neque sacri neque sancti_.

Whatever is consecrated by religion is said to be _sacrum_; whilst _sanctum_ is said of that which the law states to be inviolable.] 20.

The consul's harangue had a great effect on the commons; the patricians, recovering their spirits, considered the state as re-established.

The other consul, more eager as a seconder than as the first mover (of a measure), readily suffering his colleague to take the first lead in a matter of so much importance, claimed to himself his share of the consular duty in executing the plan.

Then the tribunes, mocking these declarations as empty, went on inquiring "by what means the consuls would lead out the army, as no one would allow them to hold a levy ?" "But," says Quintius, "we have no occasion for a levy; since at the time Publius Valerius gave arms to the commons to recover the Capitol, they all took an oath to him, that they would assemble on an order from the consul, and would not depart without an order.