ervention of Icilius, the lictor declares that "he had decided the
matter," and removes Icilius, when he attempted to raise his voice.
Injustice so atrocious would have fired even a cool temper. "By the
sword, Appius," says he, "I must be removed hence, that you may carry
off in silence that which you wish to be concealed. This young woman I
am about to marry, determined to have a lawful and chaste wife.
Wherefore call together all the lictors even of your colleagues; order
the rods and axes to be had in readiness; the betrothed wife of Icilius
shall not remain without her father's house. Though you have taken from
us the aid of our tribunes, and the power of appeal to the commons of
Rome, the two bulwarks for maintaining our liberty, absolute dominion
has not therefore been given to you over our wives and children. Vent
your fury on our backs and necks; let chastity at least be secure. If
violence be offered to her, I shall implore the protection of the
citizens here present in behalf of my spouse; Virginius will implore
that of the soldiers in behalf of his only daughter; we shall all
implore the protection of gods and men, nor shall you carry that
sentence into effect without our blood. I demand of you, Appius,
consider again and again to what lengths you are proceeding. Let
Virginius, when he comes, consider what conduct he should pursue with
respect to his daughter. Let him only be assured of this, that if he
yield to the claims of this man, he will have to seek out another match
for his daughter. As for my part, in vindicating the liberty of my
spouse, life shall leave me sooner than my honour."

[Footnote 146: Appius here contrasts two classes of persons, one
consisting of individuals, who are in their own power; the other, of
those who are not _sui juris_, but are under the control either of a
parent, or some other person. If the question arise concerning a person
who is _sui juris_, whether he is to be consigned to slavery, or to be
restored to liberty, then "_id juris esse_," sc. that he remain free
till the decision is made, _because any person_, as being _homo sui
juris_, and consequently he himself, "may proceed by law;" but he says,
that this does not hold good with respect to a person who is not _sui
juris_, but is in the hands of others; such a person, he says, cannot be
pronounced free, but must be subject to the power, either of the parent
or master, so that no injury be done to either. Wherefore, since