Livy Page 2

Multa igitur blandimenta plebi per id tempus ab senatu data.

Therefore, many flattering words were given by the senate to the plebs through that time.

Annonae in primis habita cura, et ad frumentum comparandum missi alik in Volscos, alii Cumas.

Care was held at first for the means of subsistence, and some were sent to the Volsci, others to Cumae in order to buy grain.

Salis quoque vendendi arbitrium, quia impenso pretio venibat, in publicum omne sumptum, ademptum privatis;

Also the dominion of salt to be bought, because it was [coming] sold with a high price, was entirely taken into [the power of] the senate, and taken away from individuals.

Portoriisque et tributo plebes liberata, ut divites conferrent qui oneri ferendo essent:

The plebs were freed from dues and property tax, so that the rich would bear them, who were [capable of] bearing the burden:

Pauperes satis stipendii pendere, si liberos educent.

The poor paid enough dues if they reared children.

Itaque haec indulgentia patrum asperis postmodum rebus in obsidione ac fame adeo concordem civitatem tenuit, ut regium nomen non summi magis quam infimi horrerent, nec quisquam unus malis artibus postea tam popularis esset quam tum bene imperando universus senatus fuit.

And so, this indulgence of the fathers (with things having been tough afterwards in the blockade and the famine), held the state in such agreement that the highest, not more than the lowest, shuddered at the name of the kings, and there was no one afterwards, with bad practices, that was so popular as the senate was then, as a whole, by its wise rule.