resign their authority till they had finished the work for which
they had been appointed, namely, the drawing up of the twelve tables
of the laws. And when the army perceived this they marched from the
Aventine and took up their abode on the Sacred Hill, all the Commons
following them, so that there was not left in the city a single man that
had ability to move; nor did the women and children stay behind, but
all, as many as could move, bare them company; for Duilius, that had
been tribune, said, "Unless the Senate see the city deserted, they will
take no heed of your complaints." And indeed, when these perceived what
had taken place, they were more urgent than before that the Ten should
resign their office. And these at last consented; "Only," said they, "do
not suffer us to perish from the rage of the Commons. It will be an
ill day for the nobles when the people shall learn to take vengeance on
them." And the Senate so wrought that though at the first the Commons in
their great fury demanded that the Ten should be burned alive, yet they
were persuaded to yield, it being agreed that each man should be judged
by the law according to his deserts. Appius, therefore, was accused
by Virginius, and being cast into prison, slew himself before the day
appointed for the trial. Oppius also, another of the Ten, whom the
Commons hated for his misdeeds next after Appius, was accused and died
in like manner. As for Claudius, that had claimed Virginia for his
slave, he was condemned to be banished. And thus at the last, the guilty
having been punished, the spirit of Virginia had rest.

CHAPTER XI. ~~ THE STORY OF VEII.

In the three hundred and forty-eighth year after the building of the
city, the truce that had been for now nearly twenty years with the men
of Veii being ended, ambassadors and heralds were sent thither to demand
satisfaction for injuries received. So coming to the border of the land
they encountered an embassy from Veii journeying to Rome. These
made request that the Romans should not go to Veii before that they
themselves had had audience of the Senate. Such audience they had,
and obtained their petition; to wit, that satisfaction should not be
demanded that year, because they were much troubled by strife among
themselves. But in the year following there was war. For when the
ambassadors came from Rome making the same demand for restitution as
before, the men of Veii made answer to them in these words: "Make h