eady obtained his leave, had
set out at the first watch, while the letter regarding his detention was
delivered on the following morning to no purpose.

[Footnote 149: _Sureties_--sponsores. The preliminary bail.]

47. But in the city, when the citizens were standing in the forum erect
with expectation, Virginius, clad in mourning, by break of day conducts
his daughter, also attired in weeds, attended by some matrons, into the
forum, with a considerable body of advocates. He then began to go round
and to solicit individuals; and not only to entreat their aid as a boon
to his prayers, but demanded it as due to him: "that he stood daily in
the field of battle in defence of their children and wives, nor was
there any other man, to whom a greater number of brave and intrepid
deeds in war can be ascribed than to him. What availed it, if, whilst
the city was still secure, their children would be exposed to suffer the
severest hardships which would have to be dreaded if it was taken?"
Delivering these observations like one haranguing in an assembly, he
solicited them individually. Similar arguments were used by Icilius: the
female attendants produced more effect by their silent tears than any
language. With a mind utterly insensible to all this, (such, a paroxysm
of madness, rather than of love, had perverted his mind,) Appius
ascended the tribunal; and when the claimant began to complain briefly,
that justice had not been administered to him on the preceding day
through a desire to please the people, before either he could go through
with his claim, or an opportunity of reply was afforded to Virginius,
Appius interrupts him. The preamble with which he prefaced the sentence,
ancient authors may have handed down perhaps with truth; because I no
where find any one that was likely (to have been used) on so scandalous
a business, it seems, that the naked fact should be stated as being a
point which is agreed on, viz. that he passed a sentence[150] consigning
her to slavery. At first all were astounded with amazement at so
heinous a proceeding; then silence prevailed for some time. Then when
Marcus Claudius proceeded to seize the maiden, the matrons standing
around her, and was received with piteous lamentation of the women,
Virginius, menacingly extending his hands towards Appius, says, To
Icilius, and not to you, Appius, have I betrothed my daughter, and for
matrimony, not prostitution, have I brought her up. Do you wish men to