Page:The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 1 (1890).djvu/138

 APPIUS CLAUDIUS

proue and maintaine, that the maide was his bondwoman, and in no wife would giue libertie to her friendes to haue time to anfwere the procefle made in that behalfe, thinking by that meanes, in the abfence of her father, hee might at his pleasure enioye her. As the virgine was going to fchole in the sorum, the said Claudius, the minifter of mifchief, layd handes vpon her, claimed her to be his bondwoman, for that me was borne of a feruile woman, and com- maunded her to solow him. The mayde being afraide was amazed, and the Nurffe that wayted vpon her, cried out. Whereupon the people ran out of their doores, to knowethe cause of the fturre. Claudius feing the maide like to be refcued by the multitude that was aflembled, said, that there was no neede of that hurlie burlie, for that he attempted nothing by force, but that he was able to proue by lawe. Whereupon he cited the mayde to appere, her frendes promifed that me mould according to the Lawe, make her apperance. Being come besore the confiftorie, where Appius fet in iudgement, Claudius began to tell a tale and procefTe of the cause, whereof Appius being the deuifer, vnderftode the effect. The tenor of the tale was, that the maide was borne in his houfe, and was the doughter of his owne bondwoman, who afterwardes being ftolen awaye, was caried to the houfe of Virginius, and supposed to be his childe, which thing he said, he was well able to proue and would referre the iudgement of his cause to Virginius him selfe : vnto whom the greater part of his iniurie did apertaine. In the meane time, he fayde, that it was meete the maide mould solowe her maifter : wherunto the Aduocates of the mayde replied, and said, that Virginius was absent about the affaires of the common wealth, but if he were aduertifed of the matter, they knewe wel he would bee at home within twoo dayes after : wheresore, they sayd, that it were against equitie and iuftice, that proceffe and fuite mould bee made for clayme of chyldren in the abfence of the parentes, requiring them to deferre the matter tyll the retourne of the father. Appius not regarding the iuftice of the cafe, to the intent hee myght satisfie his owne luste and pleasure, ordeyned in the meane tyme, that Claudius the Affertor and playntife, fhoulde haue the keping and placing of the mayde, till the father were returned. against whiche wrong, many did grudge, although

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