l踩VII工.二。fifteenth ofM二arrived,。。decemvirs' term of office expired, but no new magistrates were appointed: Though now only private cztizens, the decena.virs came torward as determined ever to enforce their，authority and retain all aO 5产十工 power. It was now undisguised the emblems in truth monarchy. Liberty was looked upon as for ever lost, none stood forth to vindicate it, nor did it seem likely that any one would do so. Not only had the people sunk into despondency themselves but they were beginning to be despised by` their neighbours, who scorned the idea of sovereign power existing where there was no liberty.The Sabines made an incursion.、。Roman territory in great force, and carrying their ravages far and wide, drove away an the distracted state of Rome would prevent an army from beingraised. Not only the messengers who brought the information but the country people who were flying into the City created a panic. The decemvirs, hated alike by the senate and the Dlebs。were 孟r left without any SUDDort, and whilst thev were consulting as to 材占‘rJ the necessary measures, Fortune added a fresh cause of alarm. The 1Equi, advancing in a different direction, had entrenched themselves on Algidus, and from there were making predatory incursions into the territory of Tusculum. The news was brought by envoys from Tusculum wh oimplored assistance: The panic created unnerved the decemv' 'S, an尽seeing the City encompassed by two separate wars they were ariven to consult the senate. They gave orders for the senators to be summoned, 柯to realising what a storm. of indignant resentment was awaiting them, and that they would be held 伍e wasted territory and the threatening dangers. This ，they ected, would lead to an attempt to deprive them of office., they offered a unanimous resistance, and by a sharp e-erase of authority on a few of the most daring spirits repress the atte mpts of the others. When the voice of the crier was 卜earl派少乒rum.calling the patricians to the Senate-house to meet the ciecemvirs，the novelty' of it, after so long a_ suspension of the meetings of the senate, filled_ the plebeians with astoni乡meet.“_What," they asked,“has happened to revive a practice so long disused?We ought to be grateful，to the enemy who are_ menacing， us with war, for causing axytningtgn叩pen which belongs to the usage of a free State." They looked in every part of the Forum for-a senator, but seldom was， one recognised. .w . 7 Y 1;今en they contemplated.Y , 恤e Senate也ouse and the solitude round the decemvirs. The latter put it down to the unive ，、，;，，，.rsal latredfelelf ，atredfdtfor their authority,a.atred f the plebeians explained it by ayi‘Senat。〕 ng that the‘senators did not meet because private citizens had not the right to summon there. If the plebs made common cause with the senate, those who were bent on recovering their liberty would have men to lead them, and as the senators when summoned would not assemble, so the plebs must refuse to be enrolled for service. Thus the plebeians expressed their opinions. As to the senators, there was hardly a single member of the order in the Forum., and very few in the City. Disgusted with the state of matters they had retired to their country homes and were attending to their own affairs, having lost all interest in those of the State. They felt that the more they kept away from any meeting and intercourse with their tyrannical masters the safer would it be for them. As, on being summoned, t1 ，did not come, the ushers were despatched to their houses exact the penalties for non-attendance and to ascertain whether they absented themselves of set purpose. They took back word that the senate was in the country. This was less unleasant for the decemvzrs切an it让ey had been in the City and had refused to recognise their authority. Orders were issued for all to be summoned for the following day. They assembled in greater numbers than they themselves expected. This led the plebeians to think that their liberty had been betrayed by the senate, since they had obeyed men whose term of office had expired and who, apart from the force at their disposal,1$ were only private citizens;’thus recognising their right to convene the senate.