silence； but they recounted to Tullus； being then at supper； the
strangeness of this accident。 He immediately rose from table and
came in； and asked who he was and for what business be came thither；
and then Marcius； unmuffling himself； and pausing awhile； 〃If；〃 said
he； 〃you cannot call me to mind； Tullus； or do not believe your eyes
concerning me； I must of necessity be my own accuser。 I am Caius
Marcius； the author of so much mischief to the Volscians； of which；
were I seeking to deny it； the surname of Coriolanus I now bear
would be a sufficient evidence against me。 The one recompense I have
received for all the hardships and perils I have gone through was
the title that proclaims my enmity to your nation； and this is the
only thing which is still left me。 Of all other advantages； I have
been stripped and deprived by the envy and outrage of the Roman
people； and the cowardice and treachery of the magistrates and those
of my own order。 I am driven out as an exile； and become an humble
suppliant at your hearth； not so much for safety and protection
（should I have come hither； had I been afraid to die？） as to seek
vengeance against those that expelled me； which； methinks； I have
already obtained； by putting myself into your hands。 If； therefore；
you have really a mind to attack your enemies； come then； make use
of that affliction you see me in to assist the enterprise； and convert
my personal infelicity into a common blessing to the Volscians； as；
indeed； I am likely to be more serviceable in fighting for than
against you； with the advantage which I now possess； of knowing all
the secrets of the enemy that I am attacking。 But if you decline to
make any further attempts I am neither desirous to live myself； nor
will it be well in you to preserve a person who has been your rival
and adversary of old； and now； when he offers you his service； appears
unprofitable and useless to you。〃
Tullus； on hearing this； was extremely rejoiced； and giving him
his right hand； exclaimed； 〃Rise； Marcius； and be of good courage；
it is a great happiness you bring to Antium； in the present use you
make of yourself； expect everything that is good from the
Volscians。〃 He then proceeded to feast and entertain him with every
display of kindness； and for several days after they were in close
deliberation together on the prospects of a war。
While this design was forming； there were great troubles and
commotions at Rome； from the animosity of the senators against the
people； heightened just now by the late condemnation of Marcius。
Besides that their soothsayers and priests； and even private
persons； reported signs and prodigies not to be neglected； one of
which is stated to have occurred as follows： Titus Latinus； a man of
ordinary condition； but of a quiet and virtuous character； free from
all superstitious fancies； and yet more from vanity and
exaggeration； had an apparition in his sleep； as if Jupiter came and
bade him tell the senate； that it was with a bad and unacceptable
dancer that they had headed his procession。 Having beheld the
vision； he said； he did not much attend to it at the first appearance；
but after he had seen and slighted it a second and third time； he
had lost a hopeful son； and was himself struck with a palsy。 He was
brought into the senate on a litter to tell this； and the story goes
that he had no sooner delivered his message there； but he at once felt
his strength return and got upon his legs； and went home alone without
need of any support。 The senators； in wonder and surprise； made a
diligent search into the matter。 That which his dream alluded to was
this： some citizen had； for some heinous offence； given up a servant
of his to the rest of his fellows with charge to whip him first
through the market； and then to kill him； and while they were
executing this command； and scourging the wretch； who screwed and
turned himself into all manner of shapes and unseemly motions； through
the pain he was in； the solemn procession in honour of Jupiter chanced
to follow at their heels。 Several of the attendants on which were；
indeed； scandalized at the sight； yet no one of them interfered； or
acted further in the matter than merely to utter some common
reproaches and execrations on a master who inflicted so cruel a
punishment。 For the Romans treated their slaves with great humanity in
these times； when； working and labouring themselves； and living
together among them； they naturally were more gentle and familiar with
them。 It was one of the severest punishments for a slave who had
committed a fault to have to take the piece of wood which supports the
pole of a wagon； and carry it about through the neighbourhood； a slave
who had once undergone the shame of this； and been thus seen by the
household and the neighbours； had no longer any trust or credit
among them； and had the name of furcifer； furca being the Latin word
for a prop； or support。
When； therefore； Latinus had related his dream； and the senators
were considering who this disagreeable and ungainly dancer could be；
some of the company； having been struck with the strangeness of the
punishment； called to mind and mentioned the miserable slave who was
lashed through the streets and afterwards put to death。 The priests；
when consulted； confirmed the conjecture； the master was punished； and
orders given for a new celebration of the procession and the
spectacles in honour of the god。 Numa； in other respects also a wise
arranger of religious offices； would seem to have been especially
judicious in his direction； with a view to the attentiveness of the
people； that； when the magistrates or priests performed any divine
worship； a herald should go before； and proclaim with a loud voice；
Hoc age； Do this you are about； and so warn them to mind whatever
sacred action they were engaged in； and not suffer any business or
worldly avocation to disturb and interrupt it； most of the things
which men do of this kind being in manner forced from them； and
effected by constraint。 It is usual with the Romans to recommence
their sacrifices and processions and spectacles； not only upon such
a cause as this； but for any slighter reason。 If but one of the horses
which drew the chariots called Tensae； upon which the images of
their gods were placed； happened to fail and falter； or if the
driver took hold of the reins with his left hand； they would decree
that the whole operation should commence anew； and； in latter ages；
one and the same sacrifice was performed thirty times over； because of
the occurrence of some defect or mistake or accident in the service。
Such was the Roman reverence and caution in religious matters。
Marcius and Tullus were now secretly discoursing of their project
with the chief men of Antium； advising them to invade the Romans while
they were at variance among themselves。 And when shame appeared to
hinder them from embracing the motion； as they had sworn to a truce
and cessation of arms for the space of two years； the Romans
themselves soon furnished them with a pretence； by making
proclamation； out of some jealousy or slanderous report； in the
midst of the spectacles； that all the Volscians who had come to see
them should depart the city before sunset。 Some affirm that this was a
contrivance of Marcius； who sent a man privately to the consuls；
falsely to accuse the Volscians of intending to fall upon the Romans
during the games； and to set the city on fire。 This public affront
roused and inflamed their hostility to the Romans； and Tullus；
perceiving it； made his advantage of it； aggravating the fact； and
working on their indignation； till he persuaded them； at last； to
despatch ambassadors to Rome； requiring the Romans to restore that
part of their country and those towns which they had taken from the
Volscians in the late war。 When the Romans heard the message； they
indignantly replied that the Volscians were the first that took up
arms； but the Romans would be the last to lay them down。 This answer
being brought back； Tullus called a general assembly of the Volscians；
and the vote passing for a war； he then proposed that they should call
in Marcius； laying aside the remembrance of former grudges； and
assuring themselves that the services they should now receive from him
as a friend and associate would abundantly outweigh any harm or damage
he had done them when he was their enemy。 Marcius was accordingly
summoned； and having made his entrance； and spoken to the people；
won their good opinion of his capacity； his skill； counsel； and
boldness； not less by his present words than by his past actions。 They
joined him in commission with Tullus； to have full power as the
general of their forces in all that related to the war。 And he；
fearing lest the time that would be requisite to bring all the
Volscians together in full preparation might be so long as to lose him
the opportunity of action； left order with the chief persons and
magistrates of the city to provide other things； while he himself；
prevailing upon the most forward to assemble and march out with him as
volunteers without staying to be enrolled； made a sudden inroad into
the Roman confines； when nobody expected him； and possessed himself of
so much booty； that the Volscians found they had more than they
could either carry away or use in the camp。 The abundance of provision
which he gained； and the waste and havoc of the country which he made；
were； however； of themselves and in his account； the smallest
results of that invasion； the great mischief he intended； and his
special object in all； was to increase at Rome the suspicions
entertained of the patricians； and to make them upon worse terms
with the people。 With this view； while spoiling all the fields and
destroying the property of other men； he took special care to preserve
their farms and lands untouched； and would not allow his soldiers to
ravage there； or seize upon anything which belonged to them。 From
hence their invectives and quarrels against one another broke out
afresh； and rose to a greater height than ever； the senators
reproaching those of the commonalty with their late injustice to
Marcius； while the plebeians； on their sid