There I find that he spoke to this purport: "Though I am conscious to myself of no fault, Romans, yet with the greatest shame I have come forward to your assembly.

That you should know this; that this should be handed down on record to posterity, that the AEquans and Volscians, a short time since scarcely a match for the Hernicians, have with impunity come with arms in their hands to the walls of Rome, in the fourth consulate of Titus Quintius.

Had I known that this ignominy was reserved for this particular year, (though we are now long living in such a manner, such is the state of affairs, that my mind could augur nothing good,) I would have avoided this honour either by exile or by death, if there were no other means of escaping it.

Then if men of courage had those arms, which were at our gates, could Rome be taken in my consulate?
I have had sufficient honours, enough and more than enough of life: I should have died in my third consulate.

Whom did these most dastardly enemies despise?
us, consuls, or you, citizens?
If the fault is in us, take away the command from us as unworthy persons; and if that is insufficient, further inflict punishment on us.