this surname ;- a good memory and witness of the malice and displeasure thou shouldest bear me. Indeed the name only remaineth with me: for the rest the envy and cruelty of the people of Rome have taken from me, by the sufferance of the dastardly Nobility and magistrates, who have forsaken me, and let me be banished by the people. This extremity hath now driven me to come as a poor suitor, to take thy chimney hearth: not of any hope I have to save my life thereby; for if I had feared death, I would not have come hither to put myself in hazard; but pricked forward with desire to be revenged of them that thus have banished me; which now I do begin, in putting my person into the hands of their enemies. Wherefore, if thou hast any heart to be wreaked of the injuries thy enemies have done thee, speed thee now, and let my misery serve thy turn, and so use it, that my services may be a benefit to the Volsces; promising thee that I will fight with better will for you, than I did when I was against you; knowing that they fight more valiantly who know the force of the enemy, than such as have never proved it. But if it be so that thou dare not, and art weary to prove fortune any more, then am I also weary to live any longer. And it were no wisdom in thee to save life of him who hath been heretofore thy mortal enemy, and whose service now can nothing help nor pleasure thee.' Tullus, hearing what he said, was a marvelous glad man, and, taking him by the hand, said unto him,-"Stand up, O Marcius, and be of good cheer; for in proffering thyself unto us thou doest us great honor; and by this means thou mayest hope also of greater things at all the Volsces' hands." So he feasted him for that time, and entertained him in the honorable manner he could, talking with him of no other matter at that present; but within a few days they fell to consultation in what sort they should begin their wars.

Tullus caused an assembly general to be made of the Volsces, and concluded to make war upon the Romans. This done, he counseled them to take Marcius into their service, and not to mistrust him for anything past, for he

would do more in fighting for them than he ever did in fighting against them. So Marcius was called forth, who spake so excellently that he was thought no less eloquent in tongue than warlike in show. Thus he was joined in commission with Tullus as general of the Volsces, having absolute authority between them to pursue the war. Then Marcius, having left order with the rulers to assemble the rest of their power, stole away upon the sudden with the lightest soldiers he had, and marched with all speed, and entered the territories of Rome, before the Romans had any news of his coming; insomuch as the Volsces found such spoil in the fields, that they had more than they could spend in their camp or carry away. Howbeit, this was the least part of his intent: for his chiefest purpose was, to increase the malice between the Nobility, and people; and to draw that on, he was careful to keep the noblemen's lands and goods safe from harm, but spoiled all the country besides. This made greater broil between the Nobility and people, than was before. For the noblemen fell out with the people, because they had so unjustly banished a man of so great valor and power. The people, on the other side, accused the Nobility how they had procured Marcius to make this war to be revenged on them, because it pleased them to see their goods burned before their eyes, whilst themselves were well at ease.

In this while all went still to wreck at Rome. For to come into the field to fight, they could not abide to bear it, they were one so much against another, and full of seditious words; until they had intelligence that the enemies laid siege to the city of Lavinium, in which were all the temples and images of their gods. Then fell there out a marvelous sudden change of mind among the people, and far more strange and contrary in the Nobility: for the people thought it good to repeal the exile of Marcius, but the Senate would in no case yield to that. Marcius, hearing of this stir about him, was in a greater rage with them than before; insomuch that he raised the siege before Lavinium, and, going towards Rome, lodged his camp

within forty furlongs of the city. This did put the whole city in a wonderful fear: howbeit, for the present it appeased the dissension betwixt the Nobility and the people. For, when they saw the women in a marvelous fear running up and down the city; the temples full of old people weeping bitterly in their prayers to the gods; and finally not a man either wise or hardy to provide for their safety; then they were all of opinion that the people had reason to call home Marcius and reconcile themselves to him. So they all agreed to send ambassadors unto him, to let him understand how his countrymen did call him home again, and restored him to all his goods, and besought him to deliver them from this war.

The ambassadors were Marcius' familiar friends and acquaintance, who looked at the least for a courteous welcome of him. Howbeit, at their coming they were brought to the place where he was set in his chair of state, with a marvelous and unspeakable majesty, having the chiefest men of the Volsces about him. So he commanded them to declare openly the cause of their coming, which they did. in the most humble words they could devise, and with all modesty of behavior: whereupon, for the injury they had done him, he answered very hotly and in great choler; but as general of the Volsces, he willed them to restore unto the Volsces all the lands and cities they had taken from them in former wars, and give them the honor and freedom of Rome. Thereupon he gave them thirty days' respite to make answer. So the ambassadors returned, and Marcius departed with his army out of their territories.

Marcius, having given the Romans thirty days' respite, thought it good not to lie idle, but went and destroyed the lands of their allies, and took seven great cities of theirs. The time having expired, and Marcius being returned into the dominions of the Romans with all his army, they sent another embassy to pray peace and the remove of the Volsces out of the country. He answered, that as general of the Volsces he would reply nothing to it; but as a Roman citizen he would counsel them to let fall their pride;

and that they should come again within three days, and deliver up the articles agreed upon: otherwise he would no more give them safe conduct to his camp with such vain messages. When the ambassadors had returned and made report to the Senate, the city being in extreme danger, they threw out, as the common proverb saith, their holy anchor. For they appointed all the bishops, priests, ministers of the gods, and keepers of holy things, and all the augurers and soothsayers, to go to Marcius, appareled as when they do sacrifices, and intreat him to leave off the war, and speak to his countrymen, and conclude peace with the Volsces. He suffered them to come into the camp, but granted them nothing more, and willed them either to accept peace under the conditions offered, or else to receive When this goodly rabble of priests were returned, it was determined that none should go out of the city, and that they should watch upon the walls, to repulse their enemies, if they came to assault them; referring themselves and all their hope to time and fortune's uncertain favor, not knowing otherwise how to remedy the danger.

war.

Now the Roman ladies and gentlemen did visit all the temples and gods, to make their prayers unto them. But the greatest ladies were continually about the altar of Jupiter Capitolinus, among whom was Valeria, Publicola's own sister, who was greatly honored and reverenced of the Romans, and did so modestly and wisely behave herself, that she did not shame nor dishonor the house she came of. She suddenly fell into a fancy, and had taken hold of a noble device. Whereupon she rose and the other la'dies with her, and all went straight to the house of Volumnia, Marcius' mother; and, coming in, found her and Marcius' wife set together, and having his young children in her lap. All these ladies sitting in a ring about her, Valeria began to speak in this sort: "We ladies are come to visit you, my lady Volumnia and Virgilia, by no direction from the Senate or any magistrate, but through the inspiration, as I take it, of some god above; who, having taken pity of our prayers, hath moved us to come and

intreat you in a matter, as well beneficial for us, as also for the citizens in general, and to yourselves in special; and which shall redound to your more fame, than the daughters of the Sabines obtained when they procured loving peace between their fathers and husbands. Come on, good ladies, and let us go all together unto Marcius, to intreat him to take pity upon us, and also to report unto him how much you are bound unto the citizens; who, notwithstanding they have sustained great hurt by him, have not sought revenge upon your persons, nor conceived any thought but to deliver you safe into his hands, though thereby they look for no better grace or clemency from him."

When Valeria had spoken this, all the other ladies with one voice confirmed that she had said. Then Volumnia in this sort did answer: "My good ladies, we are partakers with you of the common misery of our country, and our grief exceedeth yours by reason of our particular misfortune. But the greatest grief is, to see our poor country brought to such extremity, that all hope is now cast upon us simple women; because we know not what account he will make of us, since he hath cast from him all care of his natural country, which heretofore he hath holden more precious than either his mother, wife, or children. Notwithstanding, if ye think we can do any good, we will do what you will have us. Bring us to him, I pray you; for if we cannot prevail, we can die at his feet, as humble suitors for our country."

Her answer ended, she took her daughter-in-law and Marcius' children with her; and, being accompanied with all the other ladies, they went together unto the Volsces' camp; who, when they saw her, did of themselves pity and reverence her, and there was not a man among them durst say a word unto her. Now was Marcius set in his chair of state, and when he spied the women coming afar off, he marveled what it meant; but afterwards, knowing his wife, who came foremost, he determined at the first to persist in his rancor. But in the ending, being altered to see