gratify their lust promiscuously, like cattle and wild beasts? Whether
these persons will endure such things, I know not; I hope that those
will not who have arms in their hands. When the claimant of the girl was
repulsed by the crowd of women and advocates who were standing around
her, silence was commanded by the crier.

[Footnote 150: _He passed a sentence_, &c. In the original it is,
"decresse vindicias secundum servitutem." This decision relates to the
definitive bail. Appius the day before had made up his mind to this
decision. He had calculated, however, on the non-appearance of the
father; yet did not now choose to be foiled by his unexpected
presence.--_Stocker._]

48. The decemvir, engrossed in mind by his lustful propensities, states
that not only from the abusive language of Icilius yesterday, and the
violence of Virginius, of which he had the entire Roman people as
witnesses, but from authentic information also he ascertained, that
cabals were held in the city during the whole night to stir up a
sedition. Accordingly that he, being aware of that danger, had come down
with armed soldiers; not that he would molest any peaceable person, but
in order to punish suitably to the majesty of the government persons
disturbing the tranquillity of the state. It will, therefore, be better
to remain quiet. Go, lictor, says he, remove the crowd; and make way for
the master to lay hold of his slave. When, bursting with passion, he had
thundered out these words, the multitude themselves voluntarily
separated, and the girl stood deserted a prey to injustice. Then
Virginius, when he saw no aid any where, says, I beg you, Appius, first
pardon a father's grief, if I have said any thing too harsh against you:
in the next place, suffer me to question the nurse before the maiden,
what all this matter is? that if I have been falsely called her father,
I may depart hence with a more resigned mind. Permission being granted,
he draws the girl and the nurse aside to the sheds near the temple of
Cloacina, which now go by the name of the new sheds: and there snatching
up a knife from a butcher, "In this one way, the only one in my power,
do I secure to you your liberty." He then transfixes the girl's breast,
and looking back towards the tribunal, he says, "With this blood I
devote thee, Appius, and thy head." Appius, aroused by the cry raised at
so dreadful a deed, orders Virginius to be seized. He, armed with the
knife, cleared the way