l, should be punished with stripes and
beheaded." All these matters, though against the feelings of the
patricians, passed off without opposition from them, because no severity
was aimed at any particular individual.

56. Then both the tribunitian power and the liberty of the commons being
firmly established, the tribunes now deeming it both safe and seasonable
to attack individuals, single out Virginius as the first prosecutor and
Appius as defendant. When Virginius appointed a day for Appius, and
Appius came down to the forum, accompanied by some young patricians, the
memory of his most profligate exercise of power was instantly revived in
the minds of all, as soon as they beheld himself and his satellites.
Then Virginius says, "Long speeches have been invented for matters of a
doubtful nature. Accordingly I shall neither waste time in dwelling on
the guilt of this man before you, from whose cruelty ye have rescued
yourselves by force of arms, nor shall I suffer him to add impudence to
his other enormous crimes in defending himself. Wherefore, Appius
Claudius, I remit to you the accumulated impious and nefarious deeds you
have had the effrontery to commit for the last two years; with respect
to one charge only, unless you will appoint a judge, (and prove) that
you have not, contrary to the laws, sentenced a free person to be a
slave, I order that you be taken into custody." Neither in the aid of
the tribunes, nor in the judgment of the people, could Appius place any
hope: still he both appealed to the tribunes, and, when no one regarded
him, being seized by the bailiff, he exclaims, "I appeal." The hearing
of this one expression, that safeguard of liberty, uttered from that
mouth by which a free citizen was so recently consigned to slavery,
occasioned general silence. And, whilst they observe to each other,
that "at length there are gods, and that they do not disregard human
affairs; and that punishments await tyranny and cruelty, which, though
late, are still by no means light; that he now appealed, who had
abolished all right of appeal; and that he implored the protection of
the people, who had trampled down all the rights of the people; and that
he was dragged off to prison, destitute of the rights of liberty, who
had doomed a free person to slavery." Amid the murmurs of the assembly,
the voice of Appius was heard imploring the protection of the Roman
people. He enumerated the services of his ancestors to the state,