grievances of the senate were removed. For this, the tribunes summoned him to a trial before the people. 5. When the appointed day was come, all persons were illed with the greatest expectations, and a vast concourse from the adjacent country assembled and filled the forum. Coriola'nus presented himself before the people with a degree of intrepidity that merited better fortune. His graceful person, his persuasive eloquence, and the cries of those whom he had saved from the enemy, inclined the auditors to relent. 6. But being unable to answer what was alleged against him to the satisfaction of the people, and utterly confounded with a new charge, of having embezzled the plunder of Antium, the tribunes immediately took the votes, and Coriola'nus was condemned to perpetual exilex 7 This sentence against their bravest defender struck the senate with sorrow, consternation, and regret Coriola'nus alone, in the midst of the tumult, seemed an unconcerned spectator. 8. He returned home, followed by the lamentations of the most respectable senators and citizens, to take leave of his wife, his children, and his mother Veturia, Then, recommending all to the care of Heaven, he left the city, without followers or fortune, to take refuge with Tullus At'tius', a man of great power among the Volsci, who took him under his protection, and espoused his quarrel. 9. Some pretence was necessary to induce the Volsci to break the league which had been made with Rome and for this purpose, Tullus sent many of his citizens thither, apparently for the purpose of seeing some games at that time celebrating; but gave the senate private information that the strangers had dangerous intentions of burning the city. 10 This had the desired effect; the senate issued an order, that all strangers, whoever they were, should depart from Rome before sunset. 11. This order Tullus represented to his countrymen as an infraction of the treaty, and procured an embassy to Rome, complaining of the breach, and re-demanding all the territories belonging to the Volsci, of which they had been violently dispos 1 Tullus At'tius was a most determined enemy to the Romans, and to Coriola'nus in particular, for the share he had in humbling the power of the Vol'sci. It was probably more from a hope of revenge, by means of this valiant soldier, than any noble principle, that he offered him his countenance and protection. sessed; declaring war in case of refusal. This message, however, was treated by the senate with contempt.] 12. War being in consequence declared on both sides, Coriola'nus and Tullus were made generals of the Volscil and accordingly invaded the Roman territories ravaging and laying waste all such lands as belonged to the plebeians, but letting those of the senators remain untouched. 13. In the mean time, the levies went on but slowly at Rome; the two consuls, who were re-elected by the people, seemed but little skilled in war, and even feared to encounter a general whom they knew to be their superior in the field. The allies lee showed their fears, and slowly brought in their succours: so that Coriola'nus continued to take their towns one after the other Fortune followed him in every expedition, and he was now so famous for his victories, that the Volsci left their towns defenceless to follow him into the field The very soldiers of his colleague's army came over to him, and would acknowledge no other general. 15. Thus finding himself unopposed in the field, and at the head of a numerous army, he at length invested the city of Rome itself fully resolved to besiege it. 16. It was then the senate and the people unanimously agreed to send deputies to him, with proposals for his restoration, in case he would draw off his army 17X Coriola'nus received these proposals at the head of his principal officers,' and with the sternness of a general that was to give the law, refused their offers X 18. Another embassy was now sent, conjuring him not to exact from his native city aught but what became Romans to grant. Coriola'nus, however, naturally severe, still persisted in his former demands, and granted them only three days for deliberation. 19. In this exigence, all that was left to be done was another deputation still more solemn than either of the former, composed of the pontiffs, priests, and augurs. These, clothed in their habits of ceremony, and with a grave and mournful deportment, issued from the city, and entered the camp of 1 "Is a bare re-establishment in Rome," said he, "a sufficient satisfaction for the affronts I have received? Can there be any safety for me, while a Sicin'ius or a De'cius is able to arm the populace against my life? No, Rome is an unnatural mother, who has cast off a son that was useful to her, and zealous for her glory. She shall soon know, by the effects of my resentment, whose cause it is that the gods espouse." the conqueror; but all in vain, they found him severe and inflexible. 20. When the people saw them return without success, they began to give up the commonwealth as lost. Their temples were filled with old men, with women and children, who, prostrate at the altars, put up their ardent prayers for the preservation of their country. Nothing was to be heard but anguish and lamentation: nothing to be seen but scenes of affright and distress. 21 At length, it was suggested to them, that what could not be effected by the intercession of the senate, or the adjuration of the priests, might be brought about by the tears of a wife, or the commands of a mother. 22. This deputation seemed to be approved by all, and even the senate themselves gave it the sanction of their authority. Vetu'ria, the mother of Coriola'nus, at first hesitated to undertake so pious a work, knowing the inflexible temper of her son and fearing only to show his disobedience in a new point of light, by his rejecting the commands of a parent; however she at last undertook the embassy, and set forward from the city, accompanied by many of the principal matrons of Rome, with Volum'nia his wife and his two children. 23 Coriola'nus, who at a distance discovered this mournful train of females, was resolved to give them a denial, and called his officers round him to be witnesses of his resolution; but, when told that his mother and his wife were among the number, he instantly came down from his tribunal, to meet and embrace them. 24. At first the women's tears and embraces took away the power of words, and the rough soldier himself, hardy as he was, could not refrain from sharing their distress. Coriola'nus now seemed much agitated by contending passions; while his mother, who saw him moved, seconded her words by the most persuasive eloquence, that of tears: his wife and children hung around him, entreating for protection and pity: while the female train, her companions, added their lamentations, and deplored their own and their country's distress. 25. Coriola'nus for a moment was silent, feeling the strong conflict between honour and inclination; at length, as if roused from a dream, he flew to raise his mother, who had fallen at his feet, crying out, "O, my mother, thou hast saved Rome, but lost thy son!" He accordingly gave orders to draw off the army, pretending to the officers that the city was too strong to be taken. 26. Tullus, who had long envied Coriola'nus, was not remiss in aggravating the lenity of his conduct to his countrymen. Upon their return, Coriola'nus is said to have been slain by an insurrection of the people, and honourably buried, after a late and ineffectual repentance 1. 27 Great and many were the public rejoicings at Rome upon the retreat of the Vol'scian army; but they were clouded soon after by the intrigues of Spurius Cas'sius, who, wanting to make himself despotic by means of the people, was found guilty of a number of crimes, all tending towards altering the constitution; and was thrown headlong from the Tarpei'an rock3, by those very people whose interests he had endeavoured to extend Soon after the death of Cas'sius, the Veien'tes made incursions almost to the walls of Rome. As the discontents respecting the Agra'rian law, and the low state of the treasury, rendered the senate incapable of effectually resisting them, the noble family of the Fa'bii voluntarily offered themselves for this service. These, with their clients, amounted to above 4000 men. They fortified themselves in a castle, called Crem'era; and for some time proved themselves able defenders of their country; but having been enticed into an ambuscade, they were all destroyed. Questions for Examination. 1. What were the consequences of the late separation ? 2. What measures were taken to remedy these misfortunes, and to whom was the blame of them attributed? 1 The traditions respecting the death of Coriola'nus differed from each other. Livy adopts the account given in the text, Cicero says that he committed suicide rather than bear arms against his country, but Fabius Pictor declares that he lived to an advanced age in exile, and often lamented the misery of spending his declining years amongst enemies and strangers. The Volscian war deprived Rome of her supremacy in Latium, which she scarcely recovered during the succeeding century; to console themselves for a loss so mortifying to their pride, the Romans represented the Volscians as commanded by one of their own fugitive generals; and it is probable that Marcius may have held some subordinate command in the invading army. 2 The senate commanded a temple to be erected on the spot where the interview between Coriola'nus and his mother took place, which saved Rome: and dedicated it to maternal influence. 3 Tarpei'an Rock, or Tarpei'us Mons, a hill at Rome, about 80 feet in perpendicular height, whence the Romans threw down their condemned criminals. 3. What happened to remove the popular discontent?— 4. What circumstances raised a fresh commotion? 5. Did Coriolanus obey the summons? 6. What was the issue of the trial?— 7. To what sensations did this sentence give rise?8. What circumstance attended his departure 9. In what manner did he commence his revenge? 10. Was this information believed? 11. What use did Tullus make of this order? 12. To whom was the conduct of the war committed? 13. Was this invasion vigorously opposed? 14. Was Coriolanus uniformly successful 2 15. What did this good fortune induce him to undertake? 16. What measures did the senate adopt on this emergency 17. How were these proposals received?. 18. Were they repeated? 19. What was the next step adopted? 20. Did the Romans boldly resolve to oppose force by force? 21. What new expedient was proposed 22. Was this proposal adopted? 23. What was the conduct of Coriolanus on the occasion 2 24. Describe this interview.. 25. What was the result? 26. Did the Volscians approve of this measure? 27. What followed this happy deliverance? 1. THE year following, the two consuls of the former year, Man'lius and Fa'bius, were cited by the tribunes to appear before the people. The Agrarian law, which had been proposed some time before, for equally dividing the lands of the commonwealth among the people, was the object invariably pursued, and they were accused of having made unjustifiable delays in putting it off. 2. The Agrarian law was a grant the senate could not think of making to the people. The consuls, therefore, |