Drakus Domitius Cordatus looked out at the young man before him and listened to his short speech, not in his defense, but to his own condemnation. When Rusticus had finished, Cordatus was silent for a time, and then finally began to speak.

“That you have failed in your duty as Races Aedile is plainly apparent to any and all in Rome. Despite the excellent example of Publius Manlius Torquatus in holding not one set of Gladiatorial Games each month, but two, you failed to hold a single races in either Februarius or Martius. This is wholly unacceptable, and for this reason I charged you with the Lex Aemilia Aedile Scelestus. I do not regret doing so.

Yet I am reminded that the past two months were not normal times. They were times of extreme stress, times when men of far more experience and wisdom failed to act appropriately. It is hardly surprising that a man so new to Rome, and so inexperienced failed to take the correct course of action. I have reviewed your actions immediately following the threat of the Gauls, and I find no lack of courage in your immediate response. I can only assume therefore that other considerations changed your mind and encouraged your second course of action of flight and inaction.

I am therefore choosing a course of leniency, and am not finding you guilty of violating the Lex Aemilia Aedile Scelestus, merely because of the extraordinary events which coincided with your failure. I do however, choose to sentence you. You will pay a fine of 10,000 D, distributed to the people of Rome to be paid no later than the Ides of Maius. You will also finish your year of service as Races Aedile and you will do so with distinction. If you do not, I will encourage the censors to look at your behavior month by month and urge them to take a proper course of action. In the future, I would encourage you to fulfill your duties to which the people of Rome elected you.

The court is closed.