Coriolanus prope ut amens consternatus ab sede sua cum ferret matri obviae complexum, mulier in iram ex precibus versa ‘Sine, priusquam complexum accipio, sciam’ inquit, ‘ad hostem an ad filium venerim, captiva mater-ne in castris tuis sim. In {5} hoc me longa vita et infelix senecta traxit, ut exulem te, deinde hostem viderem? Potuisti populari hanc terram, quae te genuit atque aluit? Non tibi, quamvis infesto animo et minaci perveneras, ingredienti fines ira cecidit? Non, cum in conspectu {10} Roma fuit, succurrit: Intra illa moenia domus ac penates mei sunt, mater, coniunx liberique? Ergo ego nisi peperissem, Roma non oppugnaretur; nisi filium haberem, libera in libera patria mortua essem.’ ... Uxor deinde ac liberi amplexi, fletusque ab {15} omni turba mulierum ortus et conploratio sui patriaeque fregere tandem virum. Complexus inde suos dimittit; ipse retro ab urbe castra movit. Abductis deinde legionibus ex agro Romano invidia rei oppressum perisse tradunt alii alio leto. {20} LIVY, ii. 40. [Linenotes: 1. +Coriolanus.+ Gaius Marcius received the cognomen of Coriolanus for his bravery at the capture of the Volscian town of Corioli (S.E. of Rome). After this, in a time of famine at Rome, C. advised that the corn obtained elsewhere should not be distributed, unless the Plebeians would give up their Tribunes. For this he was impeached and went into voluntary exile among the Volsci. +consternatus+ = _in strong emotion_--lit. ‘stretched on the ground.’ 7. +potuisti+ = _had you the heart to_--question indicated by _tone_ of the voice. 10-11. +non ... succurrit+ = _did it not occur to you_? 19-20. +invidia rei oppressum+ = _overwhelmed by the unpopularity of his action_. 20. +alii alio leto+, e.g. i. by a voluntary death; ii. put to death by the Volscians; iii. lived to old age in exile.] +References.+ Cic. _Brutus_ x. (compared to Themistocles). Plutarch, _Coriolanus_. ‘The germ from which the whole legend sprang is the story of the filial love of Coriolanus, and of the great authority exercised in olden times by Roman matrons over their sons and husbands.’ Ihne. Shakespeare, _Coriolanus_, V. iii. D14 WAR WITH VEII, 483-474 B.C. _The Destruction of the Fabii at the Cremera, 477 B.C._