he plebeian party,
felt it to be a horrible and extravagant act; the patricians, meantime,
wholly beside themselves with distress and horror, hurried with cries
to the rescue; and persuaded them not to despatch him by any sudden
violence, but refer the cause to the general suffrage of the people.
But when the people met together, the tribunes, contrary to all former
practice, extorted first, that votes should be taken, not by centuries,
but tribes; a change, by which the rabble, that had no respect for
honesty and justice, would be sure to carry it against those who were
rich and well known, and accustomed to serve the state in war. In the
next place, whereas they had engaged to prosecute Marcius upon no other
head but that of tyranny, which could never be made out against him,
they relinquished this plea, and urged instead, his language in the
senate against an abatement of the price of corn, and for the overthrow
of the tribunician power; adding further, as a new impeachment, the
distribution that was made by him of the spoil and booty he had taken
from the Antiates, when he overran their country, which he had divided
among those that had followed him, whereas it ought rather to have been
brought into the public treasure; which last accusation did, they say,
more discompose Marcius than all the rest, as he had not anticipated
he should ever be questioned on that subject, and, therefore, was less
provided with any satisfactory answer to it on the sudden. And when,
by way of excuse, he began to magnify the merits of those who had been
partakers with him in the action, those that had stayed at home, being
more numerous than the other, interrupted him with the outcries. In
conclusion, when they came to vote, a majority of three tribes condemned
him; the penalty being perpetual banishment.

Marcius himself, was neither stunned nor humiliated. In mien, carriage,
and countenance, he bore the appearance of entire composure, and while
all his friends were full of distress, seemed the only man that was
not touched with his misfortune. On his return home, after saluting his
mother and his wife, who were in tears and full of loud lamentations,
and exhorting them to moderate the sense they had of his calamity, he
proceeded at once to the city gates, whither all the nobility came to
attend him; and not taking anything with him, or making any request to
the company, he departed from them, having only three or four clients
with him.