Ab urbe condita

But through the strength of his party, and the consideration of personal interests which always have injured and always will injure public policy, Appius won the day.

He was very nearly being himself appointed Dictator, an appointment which would more than anything have alienated the plebians, and that too at a most critical time when the Volscians, the Aequi, and the Sabines were all in arms together.

The consuls and the older patricians, however, took care that a magistracy clothed with such tremendous powers should be entrusted to a man of moderate temper.

They created M. Valerius, the son of Volesus, Dictator. Though the plebeians recognised that it was against them that a Dictator had been created, still, as they held their right of appeal under a law which his brother had passed, they did not fear any harsh or tyrannical treatment from that family.

Their hopes were confirmed by an edict issued by the Dictator, very similar to the one made by Servilius.