Note 508 — Chapter II · THE GROWTH OF THE REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION (continued 2)

Cic. pro Domo 14, 38 “Ita populus Romanus brevi tempore, neque regem sacrorum, neque flamines, neque salios habebit, nec ex parte dimidia reliquos sacerdotes, neque auctores centuriatorum et curiatorum comitiorum: auspiciaque populi Romani, si magistratus patricii creati non sint, intereant necesse est, cum interrex nullus sit, quod et ipsum patricium esse et a patriciis prodi necesse est.” The passage is closely followed by Livy vi. 41, in the speech against the Licinio-Sextian laws, with which he credits Appius Claudius. We meet with other archaic survivals in connexion with the Senate—the distinction, e.g., between the “greater and lesser gentes” (p. 12) was never lost, and the chief of the Senate, the first member on the list, was always chosen from the gentes majores (see p. 12).