truth of the matter. For if I
have been deceived in the matter, and am not in truth father to the girl,
I shall be more content." Then, Appius giving permission, he led his
daughter and her nurse a little space aside, to the shops that are by the
temple of Cloacina, and snatching a knife from a butcher's, said, "My
daughter, there is but this one way that I can make thee free," and he
drave the knife into her breast. Then he looked back to the judgment-seat
and cried, "With this blood, Appius, I devote thee and thy life to
perdition." There went up a great cry from all that stood there when they
saw so dreadful a deed, and Appius commanded that they should seize him.
But no man laid hands on him, for he made a way for himself with the knife
that he carried in his hand, and they that followed defended him, till he
came to the gate of the city. Then Icilius and Numitorius took up the dead
body of the maiden and showed it to the people, saying much of the
wickedness of him who had driven a father to do such a deed, and much also
of the liberty which had been taken from them, and which, if they would
only use this occasion, they might now recover. As for Appius, he cried
out to his lictors that they should lay hands on Icilius, and when the
crowd suffered not the lictors to approach, would himself have made a way
to him, by the help of the young nobles that stood by him. But now the
crowd had leaders, themselves also nobles, Valerius and Horatius. These
said, "If Appius would deal with Icilius according to law we will be
securities for him; if he mean to use violence, we are ready to meet him."
And when the lictor would have laid hands on these two the multitude brake
his rods to pieces. Then Appius would have spoken to the people, but they
clamored against him, so that at last, losing all courage and fearing for
his life, he covered his head and fled secretly to his own house.

Meanwhile Virginius had made his way to the camp, which was now on Mount
Vecilius, and stirred up the army yet more than he had stirred the city.
"Lay not to my charge," he said, "that which is in truth the wickedness of
Appius; neither turn from me as from the murderer of my daughter. Her
indeed I slew, thinking that death was better than slavery and shame; nor
indeed had I survived her but that I hoped to avenge her death by the help
of my comrades." Others also that had come from the city persuaded the
soldiers; some saying that the power of the T