[387] Livy (iii. 9) says, “ut vviri creentur legibus de imperio consulari scribendis.” Even if this expression is due to a misunderstanding of the title of the decemvirs, “consulari imperio legibus scribendis” (Momms. Staatsr. ii. p. 702), it no doubt expresses a fact. For the nature and object of the decemvirate see Pompon. in Dig. 1, 2, 2, 4 (of the appointment of the decemvirs) “datumque est eis jus eo anno in civitate summum, uti leges et corrigerent, si opus esset, et interpretarentur neque provocatio ab eis sicut a reliquis magistratibus fieret”; ib. (of the publication of the laws) “quas in tabulas eboreas perscriptas pro rostris composuerunt, ut possint leges apertius percipi.” Cf. Dionys. x. 1, 60.
[388] Livy (iii. 11, 26, and 29) seems to speak of the law not being allowed to pass the Plebs; but then he does not recognise the two stages of legislation. See p. 97.
[389] Liv. iii. 31.
[390] ib. 33; cf. Momms. Staatsr. ii. p. 714.
[391] Liv. iii. 32 “postremo concessum patribus, modo ne lex Icilia de Aventino, aliaeque sacratae leges abrogarentur.” As to the sacratae leges, the aedileship would have gone with the tribunate; and there was nothing more to be protected by the leges sacratae.
[392] Their title was Decemviri consulari imperio legibus scribendis (Capitoline Fasti). Cf. Liv. iii. 32 (“placet creari xviros sine provocatione, et ne quis eo anno alius magistratus esset”) and Pompon. in Dig. (cited p. 102).
[393] Liv. iii. 34 “se ... omnibus, summis infimisque jura aequasse.”
[394] Dionys. x. 58; Liv. iii. 35.
[395] Liv. iii. 57. The accounts of the material of the “Tables” vary. Livy (l.c.) says “in aes incisas in publico proposuerunt”; Pomponius (in Dig., cited p. 102) says “in tabulas eboreas perscriptas” (perhaps roboreas or aereas, Kipp, Quellenkunde des R.R. p. 8). It is possible that they were of wood.
[396] Liv. iii. 34 “fons omnis publici privatique est juris”; Tac. Ann. iii. 27 “creatique decemviri et accitis quae usquam egregia compositae duodecim tabulae, finis aequi juris.”