was made； that the whole order of their priests； those who initiated
in the mysteries or had the custody of them； and those who；
according to the ancient practice of the country； divined from
birds； should all and every one of them go in full procession to
Marcius with their pontifical array； and the dress and habit which
they respectively used in their several functions； and should urge
him； as before； to withdraw his forces； and then treat with his
countrymen in favour of the Volscians。 He consented so far； indeed； as
to give the deputation an admittance into his camp； but granted
nothing at all； nor so much as expressed himself more mildly； but
without capitulating or receding； bade them once for all choose
whether they would yield or fight； since the old terms were the only
terms of peace。 When this solemn application proved ineffectual； the
priests； too； returning unsuccessful； they determined to sit still
within the city and keep watch about their walls； intending only to
repulse the enemy； should he offer to attack them； and placing their
hopes chiefly in time and in extraordinary accidents of fortune； as to
themselves； they felt incapable of doing anything for their own
deliverance； mere confusion and terror and ill…boding reports
possessed the whole city； till at last a thing happened not unlike
what we so often find represented； without； however； being accepted as
true by people in general； in Homer。 On some great and unusual
occasion we find him say…
〃But him the blue…eyed goddess did inspire；
and elsewhere…
〃But some immortal turned my mind away；
To think what others of the deed would say；〃
and again…
〃Were't his own thought or were't a god's command？〃
People are apt； in such passages； to censure and disregard the poet as
if； by the introduction of mere impossibilities and idle fictions；
he were denying the action of a man's own deliberate thought and
free choice； which is not； in the least； the case in Homer's
representation； where the ordinary； probable； and habitual conclusions
that common reason leads to are continually ascribed to our own direct
agency。 He certainly says frequently enough…
〃But I consulted with my own great soul；〃
or； as in another passage…
〃He spoke。 Achilles； with quick pain possessed；
Resolved two purposes in his strong breast；
and in a third
〃…Yet never to her wishes won
The just mind of the brave Bellerophon。〃
But where the act is something out of the way and extraordinary； and
seems in a manner to demand some impulse of divine possession and
sudden inspiration to account for it； here he does introduce divine
agency； not to destroy； but to prompt the human will； not to create in
us another agency； but offering images to stimulate our own； images
that in no sort or kind make our action involuntary； but give occasion
rather to spontaneous action； aided and sustained by feelings of
confidence and hope。 For either we must totally dismiss and exclude
divine influences from every kind of causality and origination in what
we do； or else what other way can we conceive in which divine aid
and cooperation can act？ Certainly we cannot suppose that the divine
beings actually and literally turn our bodies and direct our hands and
our feet this way or that； to do what is right： it is obvious that
they must actuate the practical and elective element of our nature； by
certain initial occasions； by images presented to the imagination； and
thoughts suggested to the mind； such either as to excite it to； or
avert and withhold it from； any particular course。
In the perplexity which I have described； the Roman women went； some
to other temples； but the greater part； and the ladies of highest
rank； to the altar of Jupiter Capitolinus。 Among these suppliants
was Valeria； sister to the great Poplicola； who did the Romans eminent
service both in peace and war。 Poplicola himself was now deceased；
as is told in the history of his life； but Valeria lived still； and
enjoyed great respect and honour at Rome； her life and conduct no
way disparaging her birth。 She； suddenly seized with the sort of
instinct or emotion of mind which I have described； and happily
lighting； not without divine guidance； on the right expedient； both
rose herself； and bade the others rise； and went directly with them to
the house of Volumnia； the mother of Marcius。 And coming in and
finding her sitting with her daughter…in…law； and with her little
grandchildren on her lap； Valeria； then surrounded by her female
companions； spoke in the name of them all：…
〃We that now make our appearance； O Volumnia； and you； Vergilia； are
come as mere women to women； not by direction of the senate； or an
order from the consuls； or the appointment of any other magistrate；
but the divine being himself； as I conceive； moved to compassion by
our prayers； prompted us to visit you in a body； and request a thing
on which our own and the common safety depends； and which； if you
consent to it； will raise your glory above that of the daughters of
the Sabines； who won over their fathers and their husbands from mortal
enmity to peace and friendship。 Arise and come with us to Marcius；
join in our supplication； and bear for your country this true and just
testimony on her behalf； that； notwithstanding the many mischiefs that
have been done her； yet she has never outraged you； nor so much as
thought of treating you ill； in all her resentment； but does now
restore you safe into his hands； though there be small likelihood
she should obtain from him any equitable terms。〃
The words of Valeria were seconded by the acclamations of the
other women； to which Volumnia made answer：…
〃I and Vergilia； my country…women； have an equal share with you
all in the common miseries； and we have the additional sorrow； which
is wholly ours； that we have lost the merit and good fame of
Marcius； and see his person confined； rather than protected； by the
arms of the enemy。 Yet I account this the greatest of all misfortunes；
if indeed the affairs of Rome be sunk to so feeble a state as to
have their last dependence upon us。 For it is hardly imaginable he
should have any consideration left for us； when he has no regard for
the country which he was wont to prefer before his mother and wife and
children。 Make use； however； of our service； and lead us； if you
please； to him； we are able； if nothing more； at least to spend our
last breath in making suit to him for our country。〃
Having spoken thus； she took Vergilia by the hand； and the young
children； and so accompanied them to the Volscian camp。 So
lamentable a sight much affected the enemies themselves； who viewed
them in respectful silence。 Marcius was then sitting in his place；
with his chief officers about him； and； seeing the party of women
advance toward them； wondered what should be the matter； but
perceiving at length that his mother was at the head of them； he would
fain have hardened himself in his former inexorable temper； but；
overcome by his feelings； and confounded at what he saw； he did not
endure they should approach him sitting in state； but came down
hastily to meet them； saluting his mother first； and embracing her a
long time； and then his wife and children； sparing neither tears nor
caresses； but suffering himself to be borne away and carried headlong；
as it were； by the impetuous violence of his passion。
When he had satisfied himself； and observed that his mother Volumnia
was desirous to say something； the Volscian council being first called
in； he heard her to the following effect： 〃Our dress and our very
persons； my son； might tell you； though we should say nothing
ourselves； in how forlorn a condition we have lived at home since your
banishment and absence from us； and now consider with yourself；
whether we may not pass for the most unfortunate of all women； to have
that sight； which should be the sweetest that we could see； converted；
through I know not what fatality； to one of all others the most
formidable and dreadful；… Volumnia to behold her son； and Vergilia her
husband； in arms against the walls of Rome。 Even prayer itself； whence
others gain comfort and relief in all manner of misfortunes； is that
which most adds to our confusion and distress； since our best wishes
are inconsistent with themselves； nor can we at the same time petition
the gods for Rome's victory and your preservation； but what the
worst of our enemies would imprecate as a curse； is the very object of
our vows。 Your wife and children are under the sad necessity； that
they must either be deprived of you or of their native soil。 As for
myself； I am resolved not to wait till war shall determine this
alternative for me； but if I cannot prevail with you to prefer amity
and concord to quarrel and hostility； and to be the benefactor to both
parties rather than the destroyer of one of them； be assured of this
from me； and reckon steadfastly upon it； that you shall not be able to
reach your country； unless you trample first upon the corpse of her
that brought you into life。 For it will be ill in me to wait and
loiter in the world till the day wherein I shall see a child of
mine； either led in triumph by his own countrymen； or triumphing
over them。 Did I require you to save your country by ruining the
Volscians； then； I confess； my son； the case would be hard for you
to solve。 It is base to bring destitution on our fellow…citizens； it
is unjust to betray those who have placed their confidence in us。 But；
as it is； we do but desire a deliverance equally expedient for them
and us； only more glorious and honourable on the Volscian side； who；
as superior in arms； will be thought freely to bestow the two greatest
of blessings； peace and friendship； even when they themselves
receive the same。 If we obtain these； the common thanks will be
chiefly due to you as the principal cause； but if they be not granted；
you alone must expect to bear the blame from both nations。 The
chance of all war is uncertain； yet thus much is certain in the
present； that you； by conquering Rome； will only get the reputation of
having undone your co