body； many； even of the plebeian party； felt it to be a horrible and
extravagant act； the patricians； meantime； wholly beside themselves
with distress and horror； hurried up with cries to the rescue； and
while some made actual use of their hands to hinder the arrest； and
surrounding Marcius； got him in among them； others； as in so great a
tumult no good could be done by words； stretched out theirs；
beseeching the multitude that they would not proceed to such furious
extremities； and at length； the friends and acquaintance of the
tribunes； wisely perceiving how impossible it would be to carry off
Marcius to punishment without much bloodshed and slaughter of the
nobility； persuaded them to forbear everything unusual and odious； not
to despatch him by any sudden violence； or without regular process；
but refer the cause to the general suffrage of the people。 Sicinnius
then； after a little pause； turning to the patricians； demanded what
their meaning was； thus forcibly to rescue Marcius out of the people's
hands； as they were going to punish him； when it was replied by
them； on the other side； and the question put； 〃Rather； how came it
into your minds； and what is it you design； thus to drag one of the
worthiest men of Rome； without trial； to a barbarous and illegal
execution？〃 〃Very well；〃 said Sicinnius； 〃you shall have no ground
in this respect for quarrel or complaint against the people。 The
people grant your request； and your partisan shall be tried。 We
appoint you； Marcius；〃 directing his speech to him； 〃the third
market…day ensuing； to appear and defend yourself； and to try if you
can satisfy the Roman citizens of your innocence； who will then
judge your case by vote。〃 The patricians were content with such a
truce and respite for that time； and gladly returned home； having
for the present brought off Marcius in safety。
During the interval before the appointed time （for the Romans hold
their sessions every ninth day； which from that cause are called
mundinoe in Latin）； a war fell out with the Antiates； likely to be
of some continuance； which gave them hope they might one way or
other elude the judgment。 The people； they presumed； would become
tractable； and their indignation lessen and languish by degrees in
so long a space； if occupation and war did not wholly put it out of
their mind。 But when； contrary to expectation； they made a speedy
agreement with the people of Antium。 and the army came back to Rome；
the patricians were again in great perplexity； and had frequent
meetings to consider how things might be arranged； without either
abandoning Marcius； or yet giving occasion to the popular orators to
create new disorders。 Appius Claudius； whom they counted among the
senators most averse to the popular interest； made a solemn
declaration； and told them beforehand； that the senate would utterly
destroy itself and betray the government； if they should once suffer
the people to assume the authority of pronouncing sentence upon any of
the patricians； but the oldest senators and most favourable to the
people maintained； on the other side； that the people would not be
so harsh and severe upon them； as some were pleased to imagine； but
rather become more gentle and humane upon the concession of that
power； since it was not contempt of the senate； but the impression
of being contemned by it； which made them pretend to such a
prerogative。 Let that he once allowed them as a mark of respect and
kind feeling； and the mere possession of this power of voting would at
once dispossess them of their animosity。
When； therefore； Marcius saw that the senate was in pain and
suspense upon his account； divided； as it were； betwixt their kindness
for him and their apprehensions from the people； he desired to know of
the tribunes what the crimes were they intended to charge him with；
and what the heads of the indictment they would oblige him to plead to
before the people； and being told by them that he was to be
impeached for attempting usurpation； and that they would prove him
guilty of designing to establish arbitrary government； stepping
forth upon this； 〃Let me go then；〃 he said； 〃to clear myself from that
imputation before an assembly of them； I freely offer myself to any
sort of trial； nor do I refuse any kind of punishment whatsoever；
only；〃 he continued； 〃let what you now mention be really made my
accusation； and do not you play false with the senate。〃 On their
consenting to these terms； he came to his trial。 But when the people
met together； the tribunes； contrary to all former practice；
extorted first； that votes should be taken； not by centuries； but
tribes； a change； by which the indigent and factious rabble； that
had no respect for honesty and justice； would be sure to carry it
against those who were rich and well known； and accustomed to serve
the state in war。 In the next place； whereas they had engaged to
prosecute Marcius upon no other head but that of tyranny； which
could never be made out against him； they relinquished this plea；
and urged instead； his language in the senate against an abasement
of the price of corn； and for the overthrow of the tribunician
power； adding further； as a new impeachment； the distribution that was
made by him of the spoil and booty he had taken from the Antiates；
when he overran their country； which he had divided among those that
had followed him； whereas it ought rather to have been brought into
the public treasury； which last accusation did； they say； more
discompose Marcius than all the rest； as he had not anticipated he
should ever be questioned on that subject； and； therefore； was less
provided with any satisfactory answer to it on the sudden。 And when；
by way of excuse； he began to magnify the merits of those who had been
partakers with him in the action； those that had stayed at home； being
more numerous than the other； interrupted him with outcries。 In
conclusion； when they came to vote； a majority of three tribes
condemned him； the penalty being perpetual banishment。 The sentence of
his condemnation being pronounced； the people went away with greater
triumph and exultation than they had ever shown for any victory over
enemies； while the senate was in grief and deep dejection； repenting
now and vexed to the soul that they had not done and suffered all
things rather than give way to the insolence of the people； and permit
them to assume and abuse so great an authority。 There was no need then
to look at men's dresses； or other marks of distinction； to know one
from another： any one who was glad was； beyond all doubt； a
plebeian； any one who looked sorrowful； a patrician。
Marcius alone； himself； was neither stunned nor humiliated。 In mien；
carriage； and countenance he bore the appearance of entire
composure； and； while all his friends were full of distress； seemed
the only man that was not touched with his misfortune。 Not that either
reflection taught him； or gentleness of temper made it natural for him
to submit： he was wholly possessed； on the contrary； with a profound
and deep…seated fury； which passes with many for no pain at all。 And
pain； it is true； transmuted； so to say； by its own fiery heat into
anger； loses every appearance of depression and feebleness； the
angry man makes a show of energy； as the man in a high fever does of
natural heat； while； in fact； all this action of the soul is but
mere diseased palpitation； distension； and inflammation。 That such was
his distempered state appeared presently plainly enough in his
actions。 On his return home； after saluting his mother and his wife；
who were all in tears and full of loud lamentations； and exhorting
them to moderate the sense they had of his calamity； he proceeded at
once to the city gates； whither all the nobility came to attend him；
and so not so much as taking anything with him； or making any
request to the company； he departed from them； having only three or
four clients with him。 He continued solitary for a few days in a place
in the country； distracted with a variety of counsels； such as rage
and indignation suggested to him； and proposing to himself no
honourable or useful end； but only how he might best satisfy his
revenge on the Romans； he resolved at length to raise up a heavy war
against them from their nearest neighbours。 He determined； first to
make trial of the Volscians； whom he knew to be still vigorous and
flourishing； both in men and treasure； and he imagined their force and
power was not so much abated as their spite and anger increased by the
late overthrows they had received from the Romans。
There was a man of Antium； called Tullus Aufidius； who； for his
wealth and bravery and the splendour of his family； had the respect
and privilege of a king among the Volscians； but whom Marcius knew
to have a particular hostility to himself； above all other Romans。
Frequent menaces and challenges had passed in battle between them； and
those exchanges of defiance to which their hot and eager emulation
is apt to prompt young soldiers had added private animosity to their
national feelings of opposition。 Yet for all this； considering
Tullus to have a certain generosity of temper； and knowing that no
Volscian； so much as he； desired an occasion to requite upon the
Romans the evils they had done； he did what much confirms the
saying； that…
〃Hard and unequal is with wrath the strife；
Which makes us buy its pleasure with our life。〃
Putting on such a dress as would make him appear to any whom he
might meet most unlike what he really was； like Ulysses…
〃The town be entered of his mortal foes。〃
His arrival at Antium was about evening； and； though several met him
in the streets； yet he passed along without being known to any and
went directly to the house of Tullus； and； entering undiscovered；
and went up to the fire…hearth； and seated himself there without
speaking a word； covering up his head。 Those of the family could not
but wonder； and yet they were afraid either to raise or question
him； for there was a certain air of majesty both in his posture and
silence； but they recounted to Tullus； being then at supper； the
strangeness of this accident。 He immed