eaking, he returned them a sharp answer, full of
bitterness and angry resentment, as to what concerned himself, and the
ill usage he had received from them; but as general of the Volscians, he
demanded restitution of the cities and the lands which had been seized
upon during the late war, and that the same rights and franchises should
be granted them at Rome, which had been before accorded to the Latins;
since there could be no assurance that a peace would be firm and lasting
without just conditions on both sides. He allowed them thirty days to
consider and resolve.

The ambassadors having departed; he withdrew his forces from the Roman
territory. Those of the Volscians who had long envied his reputation,
and could not endure to see the influence he had with the people, laid
hold of this as a matter of complaint against him. Among them was Tullus
himself, not for any wrong done him personally by Marcius, but through
the weakness incident to human nature. He could not help feeling
mortified to find his own glory totally obscured, and himself overlooked
and neglected now by the Volscians, who had so great an opinion of their
new leader. Yet Marcius spent no part of the time idly, but attacked the
confederates of the enemy, ravaged their land, and took from them
seven great and populous cities in that interval. The Romans, in the
meanwhile, durst not venture out to their relief; but were utterly
fearful, and showed no more disposition or capacity for action, than if
their bodies had been struck with a palsy, and become destitute of sense
and motion. But when the thirty days were expired, and Marcius appeared
again with his whole army, they sent another embassy to beseech him that
he would moderate his displeasure, and would withdraw the Volscian army,
and then make any proposals he thought best for both parties, but if it
were his opinion that the Volscians ought to have any favor shown them,
upon laying down their arms they might obtain all they could in reason
desire.

The reply of Marcius was, that he should make no answer to this as a
general of the Volscians, but in the quality still for a roman citizen,
he would advise them to return to him before three days were at an end,
with a ratification of his previous demands.

When the ambassadors came back, and acquainted the senate with the
answer, seeing the whole state now threatened as it were by a tempest, a
decree was made, that the whole order of their priests shou