The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 05 : $b the Roman Republic
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 05 : $b the Roman Republic
World history
Icilius, the virgin’s betrothed lover, protested that the outrage should
never be consummated while he lived.]
Icilius was going on, when the lictors, by order of the magistrate, kept
him off from the tribunal, and commanded him to obey the sentence. Upon
which Claudius laid hold on the virgin, and was going to take her away,
while she hung upon her uncle, and her spouse. The people, who stood
round the tribunal, seeing her in so moving an agony, cried out all at
once, and, without regarding the authority of the magistrate, fell upon
those who were endeavouring to force her away. So that Claudius, fearing
the violence, quitted Virginia, and fled for refuge under the feet of the
decemvir. Appius, seeing all the people in a rage, was at first greatly
disordered, and in doubt for a considerable time what measures to take;
then calling Claudius to the tribunal, and speaking a few words to him,
as it seemed, he made a sign for the audience to be silent, and said:
“Since I find you are exasperated at the sentence I have pronounced,
citizens, I shall waive the exactness of that part of it which relates to
the giving sureties by Claudius for the appearance of Virginia; and, in
order to gratify you, I have prevailed upon my client to consent that the
relations of the virgin shall bail her till the arrival of her father.
Take away the virgin, therefore, Numitorius, and acknowledge yourself
bound for her appearance to-morrow. For this time is sufficient for you
both to give Virginius notice to-day, and to bring him hither in three or
four hours from the camp to-morrow.” And they desiring further time, he
gave no answer, but rose up, and ordered his seat to be taken away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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