From what has been given above it is clear that Flaminius began a new era in legislation, by no change in the constitution, but rather by assuming the free initiative granted the tribunes of the plebs through the Hortensian statute. Under the influence of his personality the comitia recovered the share in the administration which they had lost in the half century of lethargy just passed, and even made new inroads into the province of magisterial and senatorial authority. While the disaster at Cannae, following hard upon that of Trasimene, subdued the rising spirit of popular independence, it made the senate more conciliatory,[2102] with the result that neither did the comitia lapse into its former repose nor did the nobles lose their hold on the government. It was to this era, more definitely to the opening of the war with Hannibal, that the description of the constitution by Polybius[2103] applies. The political condition of Rome was improving,[2104] or was just at its zenith.[2105] As the senate was at the height of its power, public measures were deliberated upon, not by the many, but by the best men.[2106] Political life was sound, elections were pure, and a scrupulous fear of the gods remained the strongest support of the commonwealth.[2107] At this epoch the three chief constitutional elements—magistrates, senate, and comitia—were so perfectly balanced that even a native would hardly be able to say whether the form of government was monarchy, aristocracy, or democracy.[2108] In this equilibrium of forces, in this mutual power of checking or strengthening, lay the might and the excellence of the constitution.[2109]