The attempt of the Roman people to pass the agra rian law, by which the lands of the commonwealth were to be equally divided among the inhabitants, Created party dissensions between tho Senate and the people. Under these circumstances the consuls had recourse to the influence of a dictator. Quintus Cin cinnatus was chosen for that high office; and the sena torial deputies found him in the attire of a husband man tilling the ground with his plough. By wisdom, moderation, and justice, Cincinnatus succeeded in softening the animosities of the contending factions. He ordered the tribunes to postpone the consideration of the agrarian law, and when he gave tranquillity to his divided country, he retired again to enjoy the se clusion of a rural life.
The tranquillity of Rome was again disturbed by an incursion of the Equi and Volsci. The Consul Minu cius was sent to oppose them; hut he unskilfully per mitted his army to he driven into a defile between two mountains, from which there was no escape but through the ranks of the enemy. Some knights who had contrived to find their way through the enemy's camp, brought the news of their disaster to Rome. In this alarming crisis all eyes again were directed to Cincinnatus, whom it was resolved to make dictator. Taken a second time from the labours of rural indus try, he hastened to provide for the pressing exigency of the Roman army. He chose a poor man, Tarqui tins, to be master of the horse. He assembled before sunset all who could bear arms, and providing them with corn, and with five days provisions, he marched all that night, and arrived at day break before the camp of the Volsci. He intimated, by the loud shouts of his army, that succour was at hand, and immedi ately threw up entrenchments to prevent the escape of the Equi, who were thus enclosed between two ene mies. A furious combat ensued. The Equi, assailed on both sides, offered Cincinnatus his own terms. The generals and captains were made prisoners of war. The enemy's camp was given up to plunder; and after Rome was thus saved from imminent danger, Cincin natus resigned his dictatorship, which he had held for a fortnight, and retired to the tranquillity of a country life. The agrarian law again agitated the contending factions. Licinius Dentatus, a plebeian veteran of extraordinary bravery, who had fought in 120 battles, and gained all kinds of military honours, pleaded the cause of the people, by the eloquence of his scars. The measure, however, was violently opposed by several young patricians, who broke the balloting urns, and dispersed the multitude that threatened to oppose them. The tribunes joined the offending parties, but declined to press the obnoxious measure.
Both the Senate and the people were tired with the endless discussions which had taken place between them; and all parties concurred in the opinion, that these evils might be greatly removed by the enact ment of wholesome laws. Three ambassadors, Posthu
mitts, Sulpicius, and Manlius, were accordingly sent to collect the legislative wisdom of Greece; and after a year's absence, during which time Rome was depo pulated with the plague, they returned with a body of laws which, when digested into ten tables, and two additional ones added, formed the celebrated code of the Laws of the Twelve Tables, of which some frag ments still exist.
In order to digest these new laws, and to carry them into effect, ten of the principal senators were chosen, whose power should he annual, and equal to that of kings and consuls, without any appeal. Thus clothed in absolute power, the decemvirs discharged their duties with zeal and industry; but at the expiration of their year of authority, they were permitted by the Senate to continue in office, on the ground that laws were yet necessary to complete the code.
When this pretence could no longer be urged, the decemvirs openly resolved to continue in power. The popular discontents which were thus excited, called forth fresh acts of tyranny on the part of the decem virs. The very property of the people was seized, and a system of slavery and proscription was thus or ganized into law.
Amid these intestine divisions the Equi and Volsci advanced within ten miles of Rome. The leading members of the decemvirate took the command of the army; but in order to punish their generals, the Ro man soldiers shamefully abandoned their camp on the approach of the enemy. When the news of this de feat rcatlied Rome, the blame was thrown upon the generals; some cried out for a dictator, and the veter an Dentatus spoke with openness and freedom of the commanders. Enraged at this treatment, Appius, the principal leader marked out Dentatus for destruc tion, and under the pretence of doing him honour, he was sent from Rome with supplies for the army. The aged hero was received most respectfully at the camp. Having found fault with the situation of it, he was put at the head of 150 men, to discover a more com modious place. The soldiers who attended him were ordered to assassinate him. They conducted him into the hollow of a mountain and attacked him from behind. The brave veteran saw the design of his enemies; he placed his back against a rock, and killed fifteen of his assailants, and wounded thirty. He kept off their javelins with his shield, but he at last sunk beneath the stones which they hurled down upon him from above. The decemvirs decreed him a public funeral with military honours, but their pretended sorrow only added to the detestation in which they were so justly held.