present； that you； by conquering Rome； will only get the reputation of
having undone your country； but if the Volscians happen to be defeated
under your conduct； then the world will say； that； to satisfy a
revengeful humour； you brought misery on your friends and patrons。〃
Marcius listened to his mother while she spoke without answering her
a word； and Volumnia； seeing him stand mute also for a long time after
she had ceased； resumed： 〃O my son；〃 said she； 〃what is the meaning of
this silence？ Is it a duty to postpone everything to a sense of
injuries； and wrong to gratify a mother in a request like this？ Is
it the characteristic of a great man to remember wrongs that have been
done him； and not the part of a great and good man to remember
benefits such as those that children receive from parents； and to
requite them with honour and respect？ You； methinks； who are so
relentless in the punishment of the ungrateful； should not be more
careless than others to be grateful yourself。 You have punished your
country already； you have not yet paid your debt to me。 Nature and
religion； surely unattended by any constraint； should have won your
consent to petitions so worthy and so just as these； but if it must be
so； I will even use my last resource。〃 Having said this； she threw
herself down at his feet； as did also his wife and children； upon
which Marcius； crying out； 〃O mother！ what is it you have done to me！〃
raised her up from the ground； and pressing her right hand with more
than ordinary vehemence； 〃You have gained a victory；〃 said he；
〃fortunate enough for the Romans； but destructive to your son； whom
you； though none else； have defeated。〃 After which； and a little
private conference with his mother and his wife； he sent them back
again to Rome； as they desired of him。
The next morning； he broke up his camp； and led the Volscians
homeward； variously affected with what he had done； some of them
complaining of him and condemning his act； others； who were inclined
to a peaceful conclusion； unfavourable to neither。 A third party；
while much disliking his proceedings； yet could not look upon
Marcius as a treacherous person； but thought it pardonable in him to
be thus shaken and driven to surrender at last； under such compulsion。
None； however； opposed his commands； they all obediently followed him；
though rather from admiration of his virtue； than any regard they
now had to his authority。 The Roman people； meantime； more effectually
manifested how much fear and danger they had been in while the war
lasted； by their deportment after they were freed from it。 Those
that guarded the walls had no sooner given notice that the Volscians
were dislodged and drawn off； but they set open all their temples in a
moment； and began to crown themselves with garlands and prepare for
sacrifice； as they were wont to do upon tidings brought of any
signal victory。 But the joy and transport of the whole city was
chiefly remarkable in the honours and marks of affection paid to the
women； as well by the senate as the people in general； every one
declaring that they were； beyond all question； the instruments of
the public safety。 And the senate having passed a decree that
whatsoever they would ask in the way of any favour or honour should be
allowed and done for them by the magistrates； they demanded simply
that a temple might be erected to Female Fortune； the expense of which
they offered to defray out of their own contributions； if the city
would be at the cost of sacrifices； and other matters pertaining to
the due honour of the gods； out of the common treasury。 The senate；
much commending their public spirit； caused the temple to be built and
a statue set up in it at the public charge； they； however； made up a
sum among themselves for a second image of Fortune； which the Romans
say uttered； as it was putting up； words to this effect； 〃Blessed of
the gods； O women； is your gift。〃
These words； they profess； were repeated a second time； expecting
our belief of what seems pretty nearly an impossibility。 It may be
possible enough that statues may seem to sweat； and to run with tears；
and to stand with certain dewy drops of a sanguine colour； for
timber and stones are frequently known to contract a kind of scurf and
rottenness； productive of moisture； and various tints may form on
the surfaces； both from within and from the action of the air outside；
and by these signs it is not absurd to imagine that the deity may
forewarn us。 It may happen； also； that images and statues may
sometimes make a noise not unlike that of a moan or groan； through a
rupture or violent internal separation of the parts； but that an
articulate voice； and such express words； and language so clear and
exact and elaborate； should proceed from inanimate things is； in my
judgment； a thing utterly out of possibility。 For it was never known
that either the soul of man； or the deity himself； uttered vocal
sounds and language； alone； without an organized body and members
fitted for speech。 But where history seems in a manner to force our
assent by the concurrence of numerous and credible witnesses； we are
to conclude that an impression distinct from sensation affects the
imaginative part of our nature； and then carries away the judgment； so
as to believe it to be a sensation； just as in sleep we fancy we see
and hear； without really doing either。 Persons； however； whose
strong feelings of reverence to the deity； and tenderness for
religion； will not allow them to deny or invalidate anything of this
kind； have certainly a strong argument for their faith； in the
wonderful and transcendent character of the divine power； which admits
no manner of comparison with ours； either in its nature or its action；
the modes or the strength of its operations。 It is no contradiction to
reason that it should do things that we cannot do； and effect what for
us is impracticable： differing from us in all respects； in its acts
yet more than in other points we may well believe it to be unlike us
and remote from us。 Knowledge of divine things for the most part； as
Heraclitus says； is lost to us by incredulity。
When Marcius came back to Antium； Tullus； who thoroughly hated and
greatly feared him； proceeded at once to contrive how he might
immediately despatch him； as； if he escaped now； he was never likely
to give him such another advantage。 Having therefore got together
and suborned several partisans against him； he required Marcius to
resign his charge； and give the Volscians an account of his
administration。 He； apprehending the danger of a private condition；
while Tullus held the office of general and exercised the greatest
power among his fellow…citizens； made answer； that he was ready to lay
down his commission； whenever those from whose common authority he had
received it should think fit to recall it； and that in the meantime he
was ready to give the Antiates satisfaction； as to all particulars
of his conduct； if they were desirous of it。
An assembly was called and popular speakers； as had been
concerted； came forward to exasperate and incense the multitude； but
when Marcius stood up to answer； the more unruly and tumultuous part
of the people became quiet on a sudden； and out of reverence allowed
him to speak without the least disturbance； while all the better
people； and such as were satisfied with a peace； made it evident by
their whole behaviour； that they would give him a favourable
hearing； and judge and pronounce according to equity。
Tullus； therefore； began to dread the issue of the defence he was
going to make for himself； for he was an admirable speaker； and the
former services he had done the Volscians had procured and still
preserved for him greater kindness than could be outweighed by any
blame for his late conduct。 Indeed； the very accusation itself was a
proof and testimony of the greatness of his merits； since people could
never have complained or thought themselves wronged； because Rome
was not brought into their power； but that by his means they had
come so near to taking it。 For these reasons； the conspirators
judged it prudent not to make any further delays； nor to test the
general feeling； but the boldest of their faction； crying out that
they ought not to listen to a traitor； nor allow him still to retain
office and play the tyrant among them； fell upon Marcius in a body；
and slew him there； none of those that were present offering to defend
him。 But it quickly appeared that the action was in nowise approved by
the majority of the Volscians； who hurried out of their several cities
to show respect to his corpse； to which they gave honourable
interment； adorning his sepulchre with arms and trophies； as the
monument of a noble hero and a famous general。 When the Romans heard
tidings of his death； they gave no other signification either of
honour or of anger towards him； but simply granted the request of
the women； that they might put themselves into mourning and bewail him
for ten months； as the usage was upon the loss of a father or a son or
a brother； that being the period fixed for the longest lamentation
by the laws of Numa Pompilius； as is more amply told in the account of
him。
Marcius was no sooner deceased； but the Volscians felt the need of
his assistance。 They quarrelled first with the Aequians； their
confederates and their friends； about the appointment of the general
of their joint forces； and carried their dispute to the length of
bloodshed and slaughter； and were then defeated by the Romans in a
pitched battle； where not only Tullus lost his life； but the principal
flower of their whole army was cut in pieces； so that they were forced
to submit and accept of peace upon very dishonourable terms；
becoming subjects of Rome； and pledging themselves to submission。
THE END