em that need it, but whence have they the power to
punish? And are they not tribunes of the Commons and not of the nobles?"
Notwithstanding, when the wrath of the people increased beyond all
measure, the Fathers perceived that they must let one man suffer for
all. For a while, indeed, they held their place, using all their power
if haply they might prevail. First, they would set their followers about
the city, who might prevent the Commons from holding assemblies, and so
bring the matter to nought. After they came forth all of them, so that
a man might have thought that all the Fathers were on their trial, using
prayers and supplications for Coriolanus. "If ye will not acquit him of
the charge, count him guilty indeed, but spare him for favour towards
us."

When the day of trial was come, Coriolanus appeared not to answer, and
the wrath of the people was still fierce against him. Being condemned,
he was banished, and was to pass his exile among the Volscians, having
even now in his heart the spirit of an enemy against Rome.

The Volscians, indeed, bade him welcome right heartily; and their
goodwill towards him increased when they perceived what wrath he bore
against his native country. His host was a certain Attius Tullus, than
whom there was none among the Volscians either more powerful or more
hostile to Rome. So the two held counsel together how they might stir
up war. They knew, indeed, that the people could not easily be moved to
that which they had tried so often with ill success. For their spirits
were broken not only with many defeats which they had suffered in time
past from the men of Rome, but also from pestilence, which had of late
sorely troubled them. Nevertheless Attius had good hopes that he
might yet kindle their anger against the Romans; and this indeed he
accomplished, as shall now be told.

It chanced that in that year the great games at Rome were celebrated a
second time; and the reason why they were celebrated a second time
was this. On the day of the first celebration, early in the morning,
a certain householder drave one of his slaves through the marketplace,
beating him with rods. Afterwards the games began, and no man thought
that aught was amiss. But no long time after a certain Atinius, a man of
the people, dreamed a dream. He saw Jupiter, who spake to him saying,
"I liked not him that danced the first dance at my Games. Unless they be
celebrated again, and that right splendidly, there will