be danger to the
city. And do thou go and tell this to the Consuls." Now the man was not
careless of the Gods, nevertheless because he stood in great fear of the
Consuls he went not, lest he should be laughed to scorn for idle words.
But this delay cost him dearly, for within a few days his son died.
And that he might not doubt what this great trouble might mean, the god
appeared to him yet again in a dream. "Hast thou had wages enough for
thy neglect of that which I commanded? Verily, thou shalt receive
yet more if thou tell not the matter straightway to the Consuls."
Nevertheless, though the matter was now more urgent, yet the man
delayed, and there fell upon him suddenly a great sickness and weakness.
Thereupon he called his kinsfolk together to counsel, and told them
all that he had seen and heard, how Jupiter had appeared to him in his
dream, and had threatened him with punishment, and what had thereupon
ensued When they heard these things, all with one consent agreed that
the man should be carried straightway in a litter to the market-place
into the presence of the Consuls. The Consuls commanded that he should
be taken into the senate-house, where, being set down, he related all
that had been told, to the great wonder of the Fathers. And when he
had finished speaking, lo! there followed another marvel. His sickness
departed from him in a moment, so that he that had been brought into the
senate-house without power to move any limb, now, having fulfilled the
command of the god, returned upon his feet to his own home.

The Senate, therefore, decreed that the Great Games should be celebrated
a second time with great pomp. To this festival there came, at the
bidding of Attius, a great company of the Volscians. But before the
beginning of the games Attius, having agreed with Coriolanus what should
be done, sought audience of the Consuls, saying that he would speak
with them of a matter of great moment to the State. To them, none others
being present, he said, "I like not to speak ill of my own countrymen.
Yet seeing that I have not to accuse them of aught that they have done
amiss, but rather to take care that they do it not, I will even speak my
mind. The Volscians are of too light and fickle temper. From this cause
we have already in time past suffered many things, so that in truth it
is of your long-suffering rather than of our well-deserving that we are
alive this day. Even now there is a great company of my people