Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 10
Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D., Ed.

22. no one doubted that Fabius would by the¹ common voice of all be for the fifth time elected; and in fact the prerogative centuries and all those which were summoned first² were naming him consul, together with Lucius Volumnius. [2] Fabius then made a speech, to the same purport as he had done two years before; but, overborne by the general agreement, he ended by requesting that he might have for colleague Publius Decius, who would be a prop to his old age. [3] in the censorship and the two consulships which he had shared with Decius, he had found that nothing more tended to the preservation of the commonwealth than the harmony of colleagues. to a new partner in authority he could now hardly hope to adapt an old man's mind: with one whose character he knew, it would be easier to share his counsels. [4] his plea was seconded by the consul, who bestowed well —merited [5] praise on Publius Decius, and recalling the advantages that accrued from harmony betwixt the consuls to the administration of military measures and the harm that resulted from their discord, reminded his hearers how dire had been the danger occasioned lately by the strife between himself and his colleague. [6] Decius and Fabius, he said, were of one heart and [p. 443]one mind, and were, besides, men born for war,³ great in their deeds, but unskilled in the strife of words and of the tongue. [7] theirs were talents meet for the consul's office. but shrewd and clever men, masters of the law and of eloquence, like Appius Claudius, should be had to preside over the City and the Forum,⁴ and should be elected praetors to administer [8] justice. with these transactions the day was taken [9] up. on the following day, by the direction of the consul, elections were held both of consuls and of praetors. Quintus Fabius and Publius Decius were chosen consuls and Appius Claudius praetor —all three being absent⁵ —and the senate passed a decree, which the people ratified, prolonging for a year the command of Lucius Volumnius.