¶After Niebuhr, Rh.  Mus. 1828, p.579.]

[Frag.  XXXVII]

¶When the tribunes moved an annulment of debts, the law was often proposed without avail, since the lenders were by no means willing to accept it and the tribunes granted the nobles the choice of either putting this law to the vote or following that of Stolo, by which they were to reckon the previous interest toward the principal and receive the remainder in triennial payments. [Footnote:  The opening portion of this fragment is based largely on conjectures of Niebuhr (Rhein.  Mus., 1828, p.579ff.)] And for the time being the weaker party, dreading lest it might lose all, paid court to them, and the wealthier class, encouraged to think it would not be compelled to adopt either course, maintained a hostile attitude.  But when the revolted [Footnote:  A doubtful reading.] party proceeded to press matters somewhat, both sides changed their positions.  The debtors were no longer satisfied with either plan, and the nobles thought themselves lucky if they should not be deprived of their principal.  Hence the dispute was not decided immediately, but subsequently they prolonged their rivalry in a spirit of contentiousness, and did not act at all in their usual character.  Finally the people made peace in spite of the fact that the nobles were unwilling to remit much more than they had originally expected; however, the more they beheld their creditors yielding, the more were they emboldened, as if they were successful by a kind of right; and consequently they regarded the various concessions almost as matters of course and strove for yet more, using as a stepping-stone to that end the fact that they had already obtained something. (Mai, p.167.  Zonaras, 8,2.)

[Frag.  XXXVIII]

¶When the opposite side [Footnote:  The Tuscans, Senones, and Gauls appear to be meant.] saw also another general approaching, they ceased to heed the common interests of their force but each cast about to secure his individual safety, as a common practice of those who form a union uncemented by kindred blood, or who make a campaign without common grievances, or who have not one commander.  While good fortune attends them their views are harmonious, but in disaster each one sees before him only matters of individual concern.  They betook themselves to flight as soon as it had grown dark, without having communicated to one another their intention.  In a body they thought it would be impossible for them to force their way out or for their defection to pass unnoticed, but if they should leave each on his own account and, as they believed, alone, they would more easily escape.  And so, to his own party,—­each one of them [lacuna] they will think that accomplishing their flight with the greatest security [lacuna] (Mai, p.167.)

[Frag.  XXXIX]

[Sidenote:  B.C. 283 (a.u. 471)] 1.  The Romans had learned that the Tarentini and some others were making ready to war against them, and had despatched Fabricius as an envoy to the allied cities to prevent them from committing any revolutionary act:  but they had him arrested, and by sending men to the Etruscans and Umbrians and Gauls they caused a number of them also to secede, some immediately and some a little later.  (Ursinus, p.375.  Zonaras, 8, 2-Vol.  II, p.174, 4 sq.)