[Frag.  XXVII]

[Sidenote:  B.C. 376 (a.u. 378)] 2.  In Dio’s 7th Book:  “Tusculans did not raise their hands against him.” (Bekker, Anecd. p. 123, 32.)

1. ¶ The wife of Rufus, while he was military tribune and engaged in public service in the Forum was visited by her sister.[Footnote:  Livy and Valerius Maximus give his name as Gaius.] When the husband arrived and the lichtor, according to some ancient custom, knocked at the door, the visitor was alarmed at this having never previously had any such experience and was startled.  She was consequently the subject of hearty laughter on the part of her sister and the rest alike and she was made a butt for jests as one not at home in an official atmosphere because her husband had never proved his capacity in any position of authority.  She took it terribly to heart, as women, from their littleness of soul, usually do, and would not give up her resentment until she had thrown all the city in an uproar.  Thus small accidental events become, in some cases, the cause of many great evils, when a person receives them with jealousy and envy. (Mai, p.155.  Zonaras, 7, 24)

2. ¶ In the midst of evils expectation of rescue has power to persuade one to trust even in what is beyond reason. (Mai, p.156.)

3.  For by their disputes they kept constantly enfeebling in one way or another the good order of their government; consequently, all these objects so to speak for which they were formerly accustomed to wage the greatest wars they gained in time—­not without factional quarrels, to be sure, but still with small difficulty. (Mai, ib.)

[Sidenote:  B.C. 368 (a.u. 386)] 4. ¶ Publius,[Footnote:  The gap existing from the word “Forum” to the end of the sentence is supplied by Bekker’s conjecture.] when the citizens of Rome were quarreling with one another, nearly reconciled them.  For he chose as master of the horse Licinius Stolo, who was merely one of the populace.[Footnote:  This is Publius Manlius, the dictator (Livy, VI, 39).] This innovation grieved the patricians, but conciliated the rest so much that they no longer laid claim to the consulship for the following year, but allowed the consular tribunes to be chosen.  As a result of this they in turn yielded some points one to the other, and perhaps would have made peace with each other had not Stolo the tribune made such utterance as that they should not drink unless they could eat and so persuaded them to relinquish nothing, but to perform as inevitable duties all that they had taken in hand. (Valesius, p.585.)

[Frag.  XXVIII]