Livy, iii. 32, 34.
1 cum Atticis legibus, i.e. with a copy of the Laws of Solon (the great Athenian Lawgiver, 594 B.C.).
1-3 Eo intentius . . . fieret, because up to this time the knowledge of law and its interpretation was confined to the Patricians (cf. the Scribes of the N.T.). This could only be remedied by writng the laws down and making them public.
3-4 sine provocatione = without appeal. Lit. ‘challenging.’
4-5 ne quis . . . esset. The Decemvirs were to supersede temporarily both Consuls and Tribunes.
14-15 quid . . . conferrent = ‘Should point out in the interest of all (lit. should contribute to the public good) any faults of excess or defect in the several articles.’—Stephenson.
15-17 ad rumores hominum = in accordance with (ad) public opinion.
17 centuriatis comitiis. Servius Tullius divided the people into five classes, according to the value of their property. The people (Patricians and Plebeians alike) voted by centuries; but as 98 centuries (and ∴ 98 votes) were allotted to the richest class and only 95 to the other four classes, the influence of wealth was decisive in the elections.
Parallel Passages. Cic. De Republica ii. 33-37, and De Legibus ii. 23.
The Twelve Tables. ‘They were essentially only a written embodiment of the existing public and private law.’—Mommsen. Cf. Magna Carta.