VIRGINIA. 37
none durst withftand it. But as fortune chaunced immediatly after that decree and order was so pronounced : Publius Numito- rius, the maydes vncle by her mother's fide, and Icilius her be- loued, were comen home : vpon whose retourne, incontinentlye Icilius approched nere to Appius, and being put backe by the Sergeant, hee cried out a loude in these wordes : "Thou oughteft to put me back from hence (O Appius) with a sworde that thou mighteft without let, enioye the thing thou wouldest haue kepte clofe and secrete. It is I that purpose to inary this maide, who I doubte not, is very honest and chaste : wheresore cal together thy Sergeantes, and cause the roddes and axes, to be made prest and ready. for I allure thee, the spouse of Icilius mail not remayne out of her father's houfe. No! although thou hast taken away from the Romaine people their Tribunes aide and appeales, whiche be twoo ftrong sortes and holdes of their common libertie. Is autho- ritie geuen thee, libidinoufly to abufe our wyues and children? Exercife thy crueltie behinde our backes, and vppon our lives if thou lifte, so that thou doe not contaminate and defile the vertue of chastitie. Whereunto if thou inferre any damage or iniurie, I will for mine owne parte, and for the loue of my beloued, crie out for the ayde of the Romaines that be prefent, and Virginius mall do the like of the souldiours, in the qtiarell of his owne doughter. And all wee together, will implore for the fuccour of Goddes and men. And trufte to it, that thou malt not enioye thy purpose be sore some of vs haue loft our Hues. Wheresore Appius I aduife thee, take hede in time, for when Virginius doth come, hee will seke remedie to defende his doughter, and will knowe in what con dition and sorte (hee is ordred^ if fliee be referred to the seruitude of this man. And for my part, my life mail soner fayle in defend ing her libertie, then my faithe to her betrouthed." Appius per- ceiuing the conftancie of Icilius, and that the people was in a great mutine and fturre, differred the cause of Virginia til the next daye : whose frends hoped by that time, that her father would be at home: wheresore with all expedition they addrefled meflen- gers vnto him in the campe, bicause the faufgarde of his doughter confifted in his prefence. In the meane time the Aflertor re quired the mayde, offering to put in baile ; the like offer made Ici-
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