Ab urbe condita

do not think it beneath you to admit us into the number of the priests.

We bring with us many distinctions, all those, in fact, which have made you so proud. L. Sextius was the first plebeian to be elected consul, C. Licinius Stolo was the first plebeian Master of the Horse, C. Marcius Rutilus the first plebeian who was both Dictator and censor, Q. Publilius Philo was the first praetor.

We have always heard the same objection raised —that the auspices were solely in your hands, that you alone enjoy the privileges and prerogatives of noble birth, that you alone can legitimately hold sovereign command and take the auspices either in peace or war.

Have you never heard the remark that it was not men sent down from heaven who were originally created patricians, but those who could cite a father,[*](i.e. to prove one's legitimacy as freeborn. The phrase seems to be an attempt to explain the etymology of patri-cuius —pater=“father,” cieo=“cite,” or “mention by name.” ) which is nothing more than saying that they were