Page:The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 1 (1890).djvu/140

 8 APPIUS CLAUDIUS

lius, of purpose to contriue and spende the time, till the ariuall of Virginius. The multitude of their owne accordes, helde vp their hands promifing to become furetie for Icilius, vnto whome hee gaue thankes, weping for ioye, to fe their kinde behauiour, and said : " I thanke you moste hartely my beloued frendes, to morowe I wil vse your frendly offer, but at this prefent I haue fureties fufficient." Whereupon Virginia was bailed. Then Appius re paired home, and wrote to his frendes in the campe, that in no wyfe they fhould giue Virginius leaue to come to Rome, whiche vngracious deuife came to late, and tooke none effe&e. Whereupon Virginius retourned home, and in poore and vile apparel], repaired to the sorum, after whom sollowed a great nomber of matrones and aduocates. Then he began to require them all of succour and ayde, alledging that he was a Souldiour, and one that aduen- tured him selfe, for the faufegarde and defence of them al : with such like perfwafions to the multitude. Semblable wordes were vttered by Icilius. All which doinges being viewed and marked by Appius, in a greate furie he afcended the confiftorie. Then M. Claudius the plaintife began to renewe his fute : and besore the father of the mayden could make anfwere to that plea, Appius gaue fentence that the mayde was bonde : which fentence femed so cruell, as it appalled the whole multitude. And as Claudius was laying handes vppon the virgine, Virginius ftepped to Appius, and said : " I haue betrouthed my doughter to Icilius, and not to thee Appius. My care in the bringing of her vp, was to marrie her, and not to suffer her to be violated and defloured. It is your maner, like fauage and cruell beastes, indifferentlye thus to vfe your flefhly affections : I can not tell whether the multitude here prefent will fupporte this enormitie, but I am fure the armed Souldiours, and men of warre, will not suffer it." Marcus Claudius being repulfed by the women, and Aduocates that were prefent, silence was proclaymed by the Trumpet. Then Appius began to declare how he vnderftoode, that all the night besore, certaine companies were affembled within the citie, to excite and moue fedicion, for whiche cause hee came with armed men, not to hurte any that was quiet, but according to the authoritie of his office to bridle and repreffe those, that were troublers of the publique state.

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