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Coriolanus
The patrician house of the Marcii in Rome produced many men of
distinction, and among the rest, Ancus Marcius, grandson to Numa
by his daughter, and king after Tulus Hostillus. Of the same
family were also Publius and Quintus Marcius, which two conveyed
into the city the best and most abundant supply of water they have
at Rome. But Caius Marcius, of whom I now write, being left an
orphan, and brought up under the widowhood of his mother, has
shown us by experience, that, although the early loss of a father
may be attended with other disadvantages, yet it can hinder none
from being either virtuous or eminent in the world, and that it is
no obstacle to true goodness and excellence. Those who saw with
admiration how proof his nature was against pleasure, hardships,
and the allurements of gain, while allowing to that universal
firmness of his the respective names of temperance, fortitude, and
justice, yet, in the life of the citizen and the statesman, could
not but be offended at the severity and ruggedness of his
deportment, and with his overbearing, haughty, and imperious
temper.
Those were times at Rome in which that kind of worth was most
esteemed which displayed itself in military achievements; one
evidence of which we find in the Latin word for virtue, which is
properly equivalent to many courage. But Marcius, having a more
passionate inclination than any of that age for feats of war,
began from his very childhood to handle arms; and feeling that
adventitious implements and artificial arms would be of small use
to such as have not their natural weapons well prepared for
services, he so exercised and inured his body to all sorts of
activity and accouter, that, besides the lightness of a racer, he
had a weight in close seizures and wrestlings with an enemy, from
which it was hard for anybody to disengage himself; so that his
competitors at home in displays of bravery, loath to own
themselves inferior in that respect, were wont to ascribe their
deficiencies to his strength of body, which they said no
resistance and no fatigue could exhaust.
The first time he went out to the wards, being yet a stripling,
was when Tarquinius Superbus, who had been king of Rome and was
afterwards expelled, after many unsuccessful attempts now entered
upon his last effort, and proceeded to hazard all as it were upon
a single throw. A great number of the Latins and other people of
Italy joined their forces, and were marching with him toward the
city, to procure his restoration; not, however, so much out of a
desire to serve and oblige Tarquin, as to gratify their own fear
and envy at the increase of the Roman greatness, which they were
anxious to check. The armies met and engaged in a decisive battle,
in the vicissitudes of which, Marcius, while fighting bravely in
the dictator's presence, saw a Roman soldier struck down at a
little distance, and immediately stepped in before him, and slew
his assailant. The general, after having gained the victory,
crowned him for this act with a garland of oak branches; it being
the Roman custom thus to adorn those who had saved the life of a
citizen; whether the law intended some special honor to the oak,
in memory of the Arcadians, a people the oracle had made famous by
the name of acorn-eaters; or, the oak wreath, being sacred to
Jupiter, the guardian of the city, might, therefore be thought a
proper ornament for one who preserved a citizen. And the oak, in
truth, is the tree which bears the most and the prettiest of any
that grow wild, and is the strongest of all that are under
cultivation; its acorns were the principal diet of the first
mortals, and the honey found in it gave them drink.
In this battle it is stated that Castor and Pollux appeared, and,
immediately after the battle, were seen at Rome just by the
fountain where their temple now stands, with their horses foaming
with sweat, and told the news of the victory of the people in the
Forum. The fifteenth of July, being the day of this conquest,
became consequently a solemn holiday sacred to the Twin Brothers.
It may be observed, in general, that when young men arrive early
at fame and repute, if they are of a nature but slightly touched
with emulation, this early attainment is apt to extinguish their
thirst and satiate their small appetite; whereas the first
distinctions of more solid and weighty characters only stimulate
and quicken them, and take them away, like a wind, in the pursuit
of honor; they look upon these marks and testimonies to their
virtue not as a recompense received for what they have already
done, but as a pledge given by themselves of what they will
perform hereafter, ashamed now to forsake or underlive the credit
they have won, or, rather, not to exceed and obscure all that is
gone before by the lustre of their following actions. Marcius,
having a spirit of this noble make, was ambitious always to
surpass himself, and did nothing, how extraordinary soever, but he
thought he was bound to outdo it at the next occasion; and ever
desiring to give continual fresh instances of his prowess, he
added one exploit to another, and heaped up trophies upon
trophies, so as to make it a matter of contest also among his
commanders, the latter still vying with the earlier, which should
pay him the greatest honor and speak highest in his commendation.
Of all the numerous wars and conflicts in those days, there was
not one from which he returned without laurels and rewards. And,
whereas others made glory the end of their daring, the end of his
glory was his mother's gladness; the delight we took to hear him
praised and to see him crowned, and her weeping for joy in his
embraces, rendered him, in his own thoughts, the most honored and
most happy person in the world. Epaminondas is similarly said to
have acknowledged his feeling, that it was the greatest felicity
of his whole life that his father and mother survived to hear of
his successful generalship and his victory at Leuctra. And he had
the advantage, indeed, to have both his parents partake with him,
and enjoy the pleasure of his good fortune. But Marcius, believing
himself bound to pay his mother Volumnia all that gratitude and
duty which would have belonged to his father, had he also been
alive, could never satiate himself in his tenderness and respect
to her. He took a wife, also, at her request and wish, and
continued, even after he had children, to live with his mother,
without parting families.
The repute of his integrity and courage had, by this time, gained
him considerable influence and authority in Rome, when the senate,
favoring the wealthier citizens, began to be at variance with the
common people, who made sad complaints of the rigorous and inhuman
usage they received from the money-lenders.
There had been frequent assemblies of the whole senate within a
small compass of time about this difficulty, but without any
definite result; the poor commonality, therefore, perceiving there
was likely to be no redress of their grievances, collected in a
body, and, encouraging each other in their resolution, forsook the
city with one accord, and seizing the hill which is now called the
Holy Mount, sat down by the river Anio, without committing any
sort of violence or seditious outrage, but merely exclaiming, as
they went along, that they had this long time past been expelled
from the city by the cruelty of the rich; that Italy would
everywhere afford them the benefit of air and water and a place of
burial, which was all they could expect in the city, unless it
were perhaps, the privilege of being wounded and killed in time of
war for the defence of their creditors. The senate apprehending
the consequences, sent the most moderate and popular men of their
own order to treat with them.
Menenius Agrippa, their chief spokesman, after much entreaty to
the people, concluded, at length, with this celebrated fable: "It
once happened, that all the other members of a man mutinied
against the stomach, which they accused as the only idle,
uncontributing part in the whole body, while the rest were put to
hardships and the expense of much labor to minister to its
appetites. The stomach, however, merely ridiculed the silliness of
the members, who appeared not to be aware that the stomach
certainly does receive the general nourishment, but only to return
it again, and redistribute it amongst the rest. Such is the case,"
he said, "citizens, between you and the senate. The counsels and
plans that are there duly digested, secure to all of you, your
proper benefit and support."
A reconciliation ensued, the senate acceding to the request of the
people for the annual election of five protectors for those in
need of succor, the same that are now called the tribunes of the
people; and the first two they pitched upon were Junius Brutus and
Sicinnius Vellutus, their leaders in the secession.
The city being thus united, the commons stood presently to their
arms, and followed their commanders.
The Romans were now at war with the Volscian nation, whose
principal city was Corioli; when, therefore, Cominius the consul
had invested this important place, the rest of the Volscians,
fearing it would be taken, mustered up whatever force they could
from all parts, to relieve it, designing to give the Romans battle
before the city, and so attack them on both sides. Cominius, to
avoid this inconvenience, divided his army, marching himself with
one body to encounter the Volscians on their approach from
without, and leaving Titus Lartius, one of the bravest Romans of
his time, to command the other and continue the siege. Those
within Corioli, despising now the smallness of their number, made
a sally upon them, and prevailed at first, and pursued the Romans
into their trenches. Here it was that Marcius, flying out with a
slender company, and cutting those in pieces that first enraged
him, obliged the other assailants to slacken their speed; and
then, with loud cries, called upon the Romans to renew the battle.
For he had, what Cato thought a great point in a soldier, not only
strength of hand and stroke, but also a voice and look that of
themselves were a terror to an enemy. Some of his own party now
rallying and making up to him, the enemies soon retreated; but
Marcius, not content to see them draw off and retire, pressed hard
upon the rear, and drove them, as they fled away in haste, to the
very gates of their city; where, perceiving the Romans to fall
back from their pursuit, beaten off by the multitude of darts
poured in upon them from the walls, and that none of his followers
had the hardiness to think of falling in pell-mell among the
fugitives and so entering a city full of enemies in arms, he,
nevertheless, stood and urged them to the attempt, crying out,
that fortune had not opened Corioli, not so much to shelter the
vanquished, as to receive the conquerors. Seconded by a few that
were willing to venture with him, he bore along through the crowd,
made good his passage, and thrust himself into the gate through
the midst of them, nobody at first daring to resist him. But when
the citizens, on looking about, saw that a very small number had
entered, they now took courage, and came up and attacked them. A
combat ensued of the most extraordinary description, in which
Marcius, by strength of hand, swiftness of foot, and daring of
soul, overpowered every one that he assailed, succeeded in driving
the enemy to seek refuge, for the most part, in the interior of
the town, while the remainder submitted, and threw down their
arms; thus affording Lartius abundant opportunity to bring in the
rest of the Romans with ease and safety.
Corioli being thus surprised and taken, the greater part of the
soldiers employed themselves in spoiling and pillaging it, while
Marcius indignantly reproached them, and exclaimed that it was a
dishonorable and unworthy thing, when the consul and their fellow-
citizens had now perhaps encountered the other Volscians, and were
hazarding their lives in battle, basely to mis-spend the time in
running up and down for booty, and, under a pretence of enriching
themselves, keep out of danger. Few paid him any attention, but,
putting himself at the head of these, he took the road by which
the consul's army had marched before him, encouraging his
companions, and beseeching them, as they went along, not to give
up, and praying often to the gods, too, that he might be so happy
as to arrive before the fight was over, and come seasonably up to
assist Cominius, and partake in the peril of the action.
It was customary with the Romans of that age, when they were
moving into battle array, and were on the point of taking up their
bucklers, and girding their coats about them, to make at the same
time an unwritten will, or verbal testament, and to name who
should be their heirs, in the hearing of three or four witnesses.
In this precise posture Marcius found them at his arrival, the
enemy having advanced within view.
They were not a little disturbed by his first appearance, seeing
him covered with blood and sweat, and attended with a small train;
but when he hastily made up to the consul with gladness in his
looks, giving him his hand, and recounting to him how the city had
been taken, and when they saw Cominius also embrace and salute
him, every one took fresh heart; those that were near enough
hearing, and those that were at a distance guessing, what had
happened; and all cried out to be led to battle. First, however,
Marcius desired to know of him how the Volscians had arrayed their
army, and where they had placed their best men, and on his
answering that he took the troops of the Activates in the centre
to be their prime warriors, than would yield to none in bravery,
"Let me then demand and obtain of you," said Marcius, "that we may
be posted against them." The consul granted the request, with much
admiration of his gallantry. And when the conflict began by the
soldiers darting at each other, and Marcius sallied out before the
rest the Volscians opposed to him were not able to make head
against him; wherever he fell in, he broke their ranks, and made a
lane through them; but the parties turning again, and enclosing
him on each side with their weapons, the consul, who observed the
danger he was in, despatched some of the choicest men he had for
his rescue. The conflict then growing warm and sharp about
Marcius, and many falling dead in a little space, the Romans bore
so hard upon the enemies, and pressed them with such violence,
that they forced them at length to abandon their ground, and to
quit the field. And, going now to prosecute the victory, they
besought Marcius, tired out with his toils, and faint and heavy
through the loss of blood, that he would retire to the camp. He
replied, however, that weariness was not for conquerors, and
joined with them in the pursuit. The rest of the Volscian army was
in like manner defeated, great numbers killed, and no less taken
captive.
The day after, when Marcius, with the rest of the army, presented
themselves at the consul's tent, Cominius rose, and having
rendered all due acknowledgment to the gods for the success of
that enterprise, turned next to Marcius, and first of all
delivered the strongest encomium upon his rare exploits, of which
he had partly been an eye-witness himself, in the late battle, and
had partly learned from the testimony of Lartius. And then he
required him to choose a tenth part of all the treasure and horses
and captives that had fallen into their hands, before any division
should be made to others; besides which, he made him the special
present of a horse with trappings and ornaments, in honor of his
actions. The whole army applauded; Marcius, however, stepped
forth, and declaring his thankful acceptance of the horse and his
gratification at the praises of his general, said, that all other
things which he could only regard rather as mercenary advantages
than any significations of honor, he must waive, and should be
content with the ordinary proportion of such rewards. "I have
only," said he "one special grace to beg, and this I hope you will
not deny me. There was a certain hospitable friend of mine among
the Volscians, a man of probity and virtue, who is become a
prisoner, and from former wealth and freedom is now reduced to
servitude. Among his many misfortunes let my intercession redeem
him from the one of being sold as a common slave." Such a refusal
and such a request on the part of Marcius were followed with yet
louder acclamations; and he had many more admirers of this
generous superiority to avarice, than of the bravery he had shown
in battle. The very persons who conceived some envy and despite to
see him so specially honored, could not but acknowledge, that one
who so nobly could refuse reward, was beyond others worth to
receive it; and were more charmed with that virtue which made him
despise advantage, than with any of those former actions that had
gained him his title to it. It is a higher accomplishment to use
money well than to use arms; but not to need it is more noble than
to use it.
When the noise of approbation and applause ceased, Cominius,
resuming, said, "It is idle, fellow-soldiers, to force those other
gifts of ours on one who is unwilling to accept them; let us,
therefore, give him one of such a kind that he cannot well reject
it; let us pass a vote, I mean, that he shall hereafter be called
Coriolanus, unless you think that his performance at Corioli has
itself anticipated any such resolution." Hence, therefore, he had
his third name of Coriolanus, making it all the plainer that Gaius
was a personal proper name, and the second, or surname, Marcius,
one common to his house and family; the third being a subsequent
addition which used to be imposed either from particular act or
fortune, bodily characteristic, or good quality of the bearer.
Not long after Marcius stood for the consulship. It was usual for
candidates for office to solicit personally the citizens,
presenting themselves in the forum with the toga on alone, and no
tunic under it; either to promote their supplications by the
humility of their dress, or that such as had received wounds might
more readily display those marks of their fortitude.
Marcius, therefore, as the fashion of candidates was, showing the
scars and gashes that were still visible on his body, from the
many conflicts in which he had signalized himself during a service
of seventeen years together, the people were affected at this
display of merit, and told one another that they ought in common
modesty to create him consul. But when the day of election had
come, and Marcius appeared in the forum with a pompous train of
senators attending him, and the patricians all seemed to be
exerting greater effort than they had ever done before on a
similar occasion, the commons then fell off again from the
kindness they had conceived for him, and in the place of their
late benevolence, began to feel something of indignation and envy;
passions assisted by the fear they entertained, that if a man of
such aristocratic temper, and so influential among the patricians,
should be invested with the power which that office would give
him, he might employ it to deprive the people of all that liberty
which was yet left them. In conclusion, they rejected Marcius. Two
other names were announced, to the great mortification of the
senators, who felt as if the indignity reflected rather upon
themselves than on Marcius. He, for his part, could not bear the
affront with any patience. He had always indulged his temper, and
had regarded the proud and contentious element of human nature as
a sort of nobleness and magnanimity; reason and discipline had not
imbued him with that solidity and equanimity which enter so
largely into the virtues for the statesman. He had never learned
how essential it is for any one who undertakes public business,
and desires to deal with mankind, to avoid above all things that
self-will, which, as Plato says, belongs to the family of
solitude; and to pursue, above all things, that capacity so
generally ridiculed, of submission to ill-treatment. Marcius,
straightforward and direct, stand together, and come in to their
assistance. The assembly met, and soon became tumultuous. The sum
of what Marcius had spoken, having been reported to the people,
excited them to such fury, that they were ready to break in upon
the senate. The tribunes prevented this, by laying all the blame
on Coriolanus, and they accordingly cited him to come before them,
and defend himself.
He came, therefore, as it were, to make his apology, and clear
himself; in which belief the people kept silence, and gave him a
quiet hearing. But when instead of the submissive and deprecatory
language expected from him, he began to use not only an offensive
kind of freedom, seeming rather to accuse than apologize, but as
well by the tone of his voice as the expression of his
countenance, displayed a security that was not far from disdain
and contempt of them, the whole multitude then became angry, and
gave evident signs of impatience and disgust; and Sicinnius, the
most violent of the tribunes, after a little private conference
with his colleagues, proceeded solemnly to pronounce before them
all, that Marcius was condemned to die by the tribunes of the
people, and bid the Aediles take him to the Tarpeian rock, and
without delay throw him headlong from the precipice. When they,
however, in compliance with the order, came to seize upon his
body, many, even of the plebeian party, felt it to be a horrible
and extravagant act; the patricians, meantime, wholly beside
themselves with distress and horror, hurried with cries to the
rescue; and persuaded them not to despatch him by any sudden
violence, but refer the cause to the general suffrage of the
people. But when the people met together, the tribunes, contrary
to all former practice, extorted first, that votes should be
taken, not by centuries, but tribes; a change, by which the
rabble, that had no respect for honesty and justice, would be sure
to carry it against those who were rich and well known, and
accustomed to serve the state in war. In the next place, whereas
they had engaged to prosecute Marcius upon no other head but that
of tyranny, which could never be made out against him, they
relinquished this plea, and urged instead, his language in the
senate against an abatement of the price of corn, and for the
overthrow of the tribunician power; adding further, as a new
impeachment, the distribution that was made by him of the spoil
and booty he had taken from the Antiates, when he overran their
country, which he had divided among those that had followed him,
whereas it ought rather to have been brought into the public
treasure; which last accusation did, they say, more discompose
Marcius than all the rest, as he had not anticipated he should
ever be questioned on that subject, and, therefore, was less
provided with any satisfactory answer to it on the sudden. And
when, by way of excuse, he began to magnify the merits of those
who had been partakers with him in the action, those that had
stayed at home, being more numerous than the other, interrupted
him with the outcries. In conclusion, when they came to vote, a
majority of three tribes condemned him; the penalty being
perpetual banishment.
Marcius himself, was neither stunned nor humiliated. In mien,
carriage, and countenance, he bore the appearance of entire
composure, and while all his friends were full of distress, seemed
the only man that was not touched with his misfortune. On his
return home, after saluting his mother and his wife, who were in
tears and full of loud lamentations, and exhorting them to
moderate the sense they had of his calamity, he proceeded at once
to the city gates, whither all the nobility came to attend him;
and not taking anything with him, or making any request to the
company, he departed from them, having only three or four clients
with him. He continued solitary for a few days in a place in the
country, distracted with a variety of counsels, such as rage and
indignation suggested to him; and proposing to himself no
honorable or useful end, but only how he might best satisfy his
revenge on the Romans, he resolved at length to arouse a heavy war
against them from their nearest neighbors. He determined, first to
make trial of the Volscians, whom he knew to be still vigorous and
flourishing, both in men and treasure, and he imagined their force
and power was not so much abated, as their spite and anger
increased, by the late overthrows they had received from the
Romans.
There was a man of Antium, called Tullus Aufidius, who, for his
wealth and bravery and the splendor of his family, had the respect
and privilege of a king among the Volscians, but whom Marcius knew
to have a particular hostility to himself, above all other Romans.
Frequent menaces and challenges had passed in battle between them,
and those exchanges of defiance to which their hot and eager
emulation is apt to prompt young soldiers had added private
animosity to their national feelings of opposition. Yet for all
this, considering Tullus to have a certain generosity of temper,
and knowing that no Volscian, so much as he, desired an occasion
to requite upon the Romans the evils they had done, he put on a
dress which completely disguised him and thus, like Ulysses,--
He entered the town of his mortal foes.
His arrival at Antium was about evening, and though several met
him in the streets, yet he passed along without recognition, and
went directly to the house of Tullus, and entering undiscovered,
went up to the fire-hearth, and seated himself there without
speaking a work, covering up his head. Those of the family could
not but wonder, and yet they were afraid either to raise or
question him, for there was a certain air of majesty both in his
posture and silence, but they recounted to Tullus, then at supper,
the strangeness of this accident. He immediately rose from table
and came in, and asked him who he was, and for what business he
came there; and then Marcius, unmuffling himself, and pausing
awhile said, "If you cannot yet call me to mind, Tullus, or do not
believe your eyes concerning me, I must of necessity be my own
accuser. I am Gaius 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 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 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, 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 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."
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 you
make us 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.
Although the Volscians had sworn to a truce 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, at an exhibition of games, that all the
Volscians who had come to see them should depart from 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 aroused their
hostility to the Romans; and Tullus, perceiving it, took 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 Volscian 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 voted 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 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
tot he 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 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 for the city to provide other
things, while he himself, prevailing upon the readiest 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, 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 despoiling 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 any thing which belonged to them. Hence the quarrels
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 side, did not
hesitate to accuse them of having, out of spite and revenge,
solicited him to this enterprise, and thus, when others were
involved in the miseries of a war by their means, they sat like
unconcerned spectators furnished with a guardian abroad of their
fortunes, in the very person of the public enemy. After this
incursion and exploit, which was of great advantage to the
Volscians, since they learned by it to be more courageous and to
despise their enemy, Marcius drew them off, and returned in
safety.
But when the whole strength of the Volscians was brought together
into the field, with great expedition, it appeared so considerable
a body, that they agreed to leave part in garrison, for the
security of their towns, and with the other part to march against
the Romans. Marcius now desired Tullus to choose which of the two
charges would be most agreeable to him. Tullus answered, that
since he knew Marcius to be equally valiant with himself, and far
more fortunate, he would have him take the command of those that
were going out to the war, while he made it his care to defend
their cities at home, and provide all conveniences for the army
abroad. Marcius thus reinforced, and much stronger than before,
moved first towards the city called Circaeum, a Roman colony. He
received its surrender, and did the inhabitants no injury; passing
thence, he entered and laid waste the country of the Latins, where
he expected the Romans would meet him, as the Latins were their
confederates and allies, and had often sent to demand succor from
them. the people, however, on their part, showing little
inclination for the service, and the consuls themselves being
unwilling to run the hazard of a battle, when the time of their
office was almost ready to expire, they dismissed the Latin
ambassadors without any effect; so that Marcius, finding no army
to oppose him, marched up to their cities, and, having taken by
force Toleria, Lavici, Peda, and Bols, all of which offered
resistance, not only plundered their houses, but made a prey
likewise of their persons. Meantime, he showed particular regard
for all such as came over to his party, and, for fear they might
sustain any damage against his will, encamped them at the greatest
distance he could, and wholly abstained from their property.
After, however, he had made himself master of Bols, a town not
above ten miles from Rome, where he found great treasure, and put
almost all the adults to the sword; the other Volscians that were
ordered to stay behind and protect their cities, hearing of his
achievements and success, had not patience to remain any longer at
home, but came hastening in their arms to Marcius, saying that he
alone was their general and the sole commander they would own;
with all this, his name and renown spread throughout all Italy,
and universal wonder prevailed at the sudden and mighty revolution
in the fortunes for two nations which the loss and the accession
of a single man had effected.
All at Rome was in great disorder; they were utterly averse from
fighting, and spent their whole time in cabals and disputes and
reproaches against each other; until news was brought that the
enemy had laid close siege to Lavinium, where were the images and
sacred things of their tutelar gods, and whence they derived the
origin of their nations, that being the first city which Aeneas
built in Italy. These tidings produced a change as universal as it
was extraordinary in the thoughts and inclinations of the people,
but occasioned a yet stranger revulsion of feeling among the
patricians. The people now were for repealing the sentence against
Marcius, and calling him back into the city; whereas the senate,
being assembled to consider the decree, opposed and finally
rejected the proposal, either out of the mere humor of opposing
the people in whatever they should desire, or because they were
unwilling, perhaps, that he should owe his restoration to their
kindness. When Marcius heard of this, he was more exasperated than
ever, and, quitting the siege of Lavinium, marched furiously
towards Rome, and encamped at a place called the Cluilian ditches,
about five miles from the city. The nearness of his approach did,
indeed, create much terror and disturbance, yet it also ended
their dissensions for the present; as nobody now, whether consul
or senator, durst any longer contradict the people in their design
of recalling Marcius.
It was therefore, unanimously agreed by all parties, that
ambassadors should be despatched, offering him return to his
country, and desiring him to free them from the terrors and
distresses of ;the war. The persons sent by the senate with this
message were chosen out of his kindred and acquaintance, who
naturally expected a very kind reception at their first interview;
in which, however, they were much mistaken. Being led through the
enemy's camp, they found him sitting in state amid the chief men
of the Volscians, looking insupportably proud ;and arrogant. He
bade them declare the cause of their coming, which they did in the
most gently terms, and with a behavior suitable to their language.
When they had made an end of speaking, he returned them a sharp
answer, full of bitterness and angry resentment, as to what
concerned himself, and the ill usage he had received from them;
but as general of the Volscians, he demanded restitution of the
cities and the lands which had been seized upon during the late
war, and that the same rights and franchises should be granted
them at Rome, which had been before accorded to the Latins; since
there could be no assurance that a peace would be firm and lasting
without just conditions on both sides. He allowed them thirty days
to consider and resolve.
The ambassadors having departed; he withdrew his forces from the
Roman territory. Those of the Volscians who had long envied his
reputation, and could not endure to see the influence he had with
the people, laid hold of this as a matter of complaint against
him. Among them was Tullus himself, not for any wrong done him
personally by Marcius, but through the weakness incident to human
nature. He could not help feeling mortified to find his own glory
totally obscured, and himself overlooked and neglected now by the
Volscians, who had so great an opinion of their new leader. Yet
Marcius spent no part of the time idly, but attacked the
confederates of the enemy, ravaged their land, and took from them
seven great and populous cities in that interval. The Romans, in
the meanwhile, durst not venture out to their relief; but were
utterly fearful, and showed no more disposition or capacity for
action, than if their bodies had been struck with a palsy, and
become destitute of sense and motion. But when the thirty days
were expired, and Marcius appeared again with his whole army, they
sent another embassy to beseech him that he would moderate his
displeasure, and would withdraw the Volscian army, and then make
any proposals he thought best for both parties, but if it were his
opinion that the Volscians ought to have any favor shown them,
upon laying down their arms they might obtain all they could in
reason desire.
The reply of Marcius was, that he should make no answer to this as
a general of the Volscians, but in the quality still for a roman
citizen, he would advise them to return to him before three days
were at an end, with a ratification of his previous demands.
When the ambassadors came back, and acquainted the senate with the
answer, seeing the whole state now threatened as it were by a
tempest, a decree was made, that the whole order of their priests
should 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 favor
of the Volscians. He 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. In
this great perplexity, the roman women went, some to other
temples, but the greater part, and the ladies of highest rank, tot
he altar of Jupiter Capitolinus. Among these suppliants was
Valeria, sister to the great Poplicola, who happily lighting, not
without divine guidance, on the right expedient, rose, 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
companions, spoke in the name of them all:--
"We, O Volumnia, and Vergilia, are come as women to women, to
request a thing on which our own and the common safety depends,
and which, if you consent to it, will raise our 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, for your
country's sake."
The words of Valeria were seconded by the acclamations of the
other women, to which Volumnia made answer:-
"I and Vergilia, my countrywomen, 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. 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, seeing the party of
women advance, 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 cares, but suffering himself
to be borne away and carried headlong, as it were, but 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. As for myself, 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, 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 loiter in the
world till the day com wherein I shall see a child of mine, either
led in triumph by his own countrymen, or triumphing over them."
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, what is the meaning
of this silence? Is it wrong to gratify a mother in a request like
this? You have punished your country already; you have not yet
paid your debt to me." 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
from the ground, and pressing her right hand with more than
ordinary vehemence said, "You have gained a victory, fortunate
enough for the Romans, but destructive to your son; whom you,
though none else, have defeated." And after a little private
conference with his mother and his wife, he went 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. 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 began to crown
themselves with garlands and prepare for sacrifice, as they were
wont to do upon tidings brought of an signal victory. But the joy
and transport of the whole city was chiefly remarkable in the
honors 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 an a favor or honor should be allowed and done
for them by the magistrates, they demanded simply that a temple
might be erected to the Goddess Fortuna, 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 honor 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 utter these words as they were putt
it up "Blessed of ;the gods, O women, is your gift."
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.
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, even the most 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 behavior, that they would give him a
favorable hearing, and judge and pronounce according to equity.
For these reasons, the conspirators judged it prudent not to test
the general feeling; but the boldest of their faction 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 of by the majority of the Volscians,
who hurried out of their several cities to show respect to his
corpse; to which they gave honorable 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 honor or of anger
toward 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.
Marcius was no sooner deceased, than the Volscians felt the need
of his assistance. They quarreled first with the Aequians, their
confederates and 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
flower of their whole army was cut to pieces; so that they were
forced to submit and accept of peace upon very dishonorable terms,
becoming subjects of Rome, and pledging themselves to submission.
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