894 THE REVOLUTIONS. BOOK IV. This privilege of inviolability extended as far as the body of the tribune could extend its direct action. If a plebeian was maltreated by a consul who condemned liim to imprisonment, or by a creditor who laid hands on him, the tribune appeared, placed himself between them {inter cessio), and stayed the patrician hand. Who would have dared " to do anything against a tribune," or expose himself to be touched by him. But the tribune exercised this singular power only where he was present. Out of his presence plebeians might bo maltreated. He had no power over what took place beyond the reach of his hands, of his sight? of his word.' The patricians had not given the plebeians rights; ihey had only agreed that certain ones among them should be inviolable. Still this was enough to affurd some security to all. The tribune was a sort of living altar, to which the right of refuge was attached. The tribunes naturally became the chiefs of the plebs, and assumed the power of deciding causes for them. They had not, it is true, the right of citing before them ■ even a plebeian, but they could seize upon a person.* Once in their hands, the man obeyed. It was suffi- cient even to be found within the circle where their voice could be heard ; this word was irresistible, and a man had to submit, even if he were a patrician or a consul. The tribune had no political authority. Not being a magistrate, he could not convoke the curies or the ' Triluni antiquUus creaii, non jiiri dicundo nee causis que- relisque de absentibus noscendis, sed intercessionibus faciendis qutbus prasenies fuisseni, ut injuria qucB coram fieret ai cer& iur. Aulus Gellius, XIII. 12. « Aulus Gellius, XV. 27. Dionysius, VIII. 87 ; VI. 90.
