20. Was the office of legate a respectable one? 21. Did Dentatus suspect treachery? 22. What plan of revenge was adopted? 23. What was the character of his attendants? 24. How did they commence their base design? 25. Was Dentatus aware of their treachery, and what resistance did he make? 26. Did the assassins boldly engage the hero? 27. What new method of attack did they attempt? 28. Was this plan successful? 29. What was the conduct of the decemviri on this occasion? SECTION II. That chastity of look which seems to hang YOUNG. 1. Atrocious, a. horrid, wicked. 4. Centurion, s. an officer who commanded a hundred men. 5. Infrin'ge, v. to violate, to break. 10. Cred'ible, a. worthy of belief. 14. Sedi'tion, s. tumult, commotion. 18. Noto'rious, a. publicly known. 1. Bur a transaction still more atrocious than the former, served to inspire the citizens with a resolution to break all measures of obedience, so as at last to restore freedom'. 2. Ap'pius, sitting one day on his tribunal to dispense justice, saw a maiden of exquisite beauty, aged about fif 1 The decemviri had, by this time, so strengthened themselves, as they supposed, by filling all the offices of state with their creatures, and by mutually supporting each other, that they ventured to throw off the mask, and announce their intention of perpetuating themselves in the government. Accordingly each decemviri appeared in the Forum, preceded by twelve lictors bearing the fasces and securis, a sure prognostic of tyranny and injustice. (Liv. iii. c. 38.) 2 The prænomen of Appius was peculiar to the family of Claudius (gens Claudia), and derived from Atta, a name among the Sabines. It was also used adjectively; thus, Appia Via, the way leading to Capua, first paved by Appius Claudius; also, Aqua Appia, the first water brought to Rome in an aqueduct constructed by him. (Liv. ix. 29.) teen, passing to one of the public schools, attended by a matron, her nurse. The charms of the damsel, heightened by all the innocence of virgin modesty, caught his atten→ tion, and fired his heart. The day following, as she passed, he found her still more beautiful, and his breast still more inflamed. 3. He now therefore resolved to obtain the gratification of his passion, whatever should be the consequence, and found means to inform himself of the maiden's name and family. 4. Her name was Virgin'ia; she was the daughter of Virgin'ius, a centurion, then with the army in the field, and had been contracted to Icil'ius, formerly a tribune of the people, who had agreed to marry her at the end of the present campaign. 5. Ap'pius, at first, resolved to break off this match, and to espouse her himself; but the laws of the Twelve Tables had forbidden the patricians to intermarry with the plebeians, and he could not infringe these, as he was the enactor of them'. 6. Nothing, therefore, remained but a criminal enjoyment, which, as he was long used to the indulgence of his passions, he resolved to obtain. 7. After having vainly tried to corrupt the fidelity of her nurse, he had recourse to another expedient, still more wicked. He fixed upon one Clau'dius, who had long been the minister of his pleasures, to assert that the beautiful maid was his slave, and to refer the cause to Ap'pius's tribunal for decision. 8. Clau'dius behaved exactly according to his instruction; for, taking with him a band of ruffians like himself, he entered into the public school, where Virginia was found among her female companions, and seizing upon her under pretence that she was the daughter of one of his slaves, was dragging her away, when he was prevented by the people, drawn together by her cries. 9. At length, after the first heat of opposition was over, he led the 1 Besides this, he was already married; and though divorces were allowed by the law, yet no instance of the kind had yet occurred. weeping virgin to the tribunal of Ap'pius, and there plausibly exposed his pretensions. 10. Claudius asserted that she was born in his house, of a female slave, who sold her to the wife of Virgin'ius, who had been childless. That he had credible evidences to prove the truth of what he had advanced; but that, until they could come together, it was but reasonable the slave should be delivered into his custody, he being her proper master. 11. Ap'pius pretended to be struck with the justice of his claim; he observed, that if the reputed father himself were present, he might indeed be willing to delay the delivery of the maid, but that it was not lawful for him, in the present case, to detain her from her master. He, therefore, adjudged her to Clau'dius, as his slave, to be kept by him till Virgin'ius should arrive, and be able to prove his paternity. 12. This sentence was received with loud clamours and reproaches by the multitude, particularly by the women, who came round the innocent Virgin'ia, desirous to protect her from the judge's fury; while Icil'ius, her lover, boldly opposed the decree, and obliged Clau'dius to take refuge under the tribunal of the decemvir. 13. All things now threatened an open insurrection, when Ap'pius, fearing the event, thought proper to suspend his judgment, under pretence of waiting the arrival of Virgin'ius, who was then about eleven miles from Rome, with the army. 14. The day following was fixed for the trial. In the mean time Ap'pius privately sent letters to the general to confine Virgin'ius, as his arrival in town might only serve to kindle sedition among the people. 15. These letters', however, being intercepted by the centurion's friends, they sent him. 1 The messengers sent by the friends of Virgin'ius were more expeditious than those of Ap'pius; and Virgin'ius, setting out for Rome, immediately on hearing of his daughter's danger, was fortunate enough to escape two parties which were sent, one from the city, and the other from the camp to arrest him. (Diod. Sic. l. xii. c. 86, 89; Livy, l. iii. . 44. 49.) a full relation of the design laid against his liberty and the honour of his only daughter. 16. Virgin'ius, upon this, pretending the death of a near relation, got permission to leave the camp, and hastened to Rome, inspired with indignation and revenge. 17. Accordingly, the next day, to the astonishment of Ap'pius, he appeared before the tribunal, leading his weeping daughter by the hand, both of them habited in deep mourning. 18. Clau'dius, the accuser, began by making his demand. Virgin'ius next spoke in turn: he represented, that his wife married young; had early borne a child; had been seen pregnant by numbers. That, if he had had intentions of adopting a supposititious child, he should have fixed upon a boy rather than a girl; that it was notorious to all, that his wife had herself suckled this daughter; and that it was surprising such a claim should be made after fifteen years' silence; and not till Virginia was become marriageable, and acknowledged to be exquisitely beautiful. 19. While the father spoke this with a stern air, the eyes of all were turned on Virgin'ia, who stood trembling with looks of persuasive eloquence and excessive grief, which added weight to his remonstrances, and excited compassion. 20. The people, satisfied of the cruelty of his case, raised an outcry, expressive of their indignation. 21. Ap'pius, fearing that what had been said might have a dangerous effect upon the multitude, and under a pretence of being sufficiently instructed in the merits of the cause, with rage interrupted him. "Yes," said he, "my conscience obliges me to declare, that I, myself, am a witness to the truth of the deposition of Clau'dius. Most of this assembly know that I was left guardian to him. I was early apprised that he had a right to this young slave; but public affairs, and the dissensions of the people, have prevented my doing him justice. However, it is not now too late; and by the power vested in me for the general good, I adjudge Virgin'ia to be the pro perty of Clau'dius, the plaintiff. tence. Go, therefore, lictors, disperse the multitude, and make room for the master to repossess himself of his slave." 22. The lictors, in obedience to his command, drove off the throng that pressed round the tribunal; they seized upon Virgin'ia, and were delivering her up into the hands of Clau'dius: the multitude were terrified, and withdrew; and Virgin'ius, who found that all was over, seemed to acquiesce in the sen23. He, however, mildly entreated of Ap'pius to be permitted to take a last farewell of a child whom he had at least considered as his own, and, so satisfied, he would return to his duty with fresh alacrity. 24. Ap'pius granted the favour, upon condition that their endearments should pass in his presence. But Virgin'ius was then meditating a dreadful resolution. 25. The crowd made way, and Virgin'ius, with the most poignant anguish, taking his almost expiring daughter in his arms, for awhile supported her head upon his breast, and wiped away the tears that trickled down her cheeks. 26. He most tenderly embraced her, and drawing her insensibly to some shops which were on the side of the forum, snatched up a butcher's knife: My dearest lost child," cried Virgin'ius, “ thus, thus alone is it in my power to preserve your honour and your freedom!" So saying, he plunged the weapon into her heart. Then drawing it out, reeking with her blood, he held it up to Ap'pius: "Tyrant," cried he, " by this blood I devote thy head to the infernal gods!" 27. Thus saying, and covered with his daughter's blood, the knife remaining in his hand, threatening destruction to whomsoever should oppose him, he ran through the city, wildly calling upon the people to strike for freedom. By the favour of the multitude he then mount his horse, and rode directly to the camp. 66 28. He no sooner arrived, followed by a number of his friends, than he informed the army of all that had been |