1Then the matrons gather in great numbers at the house of Veturia, Coriolanus' mother, and of Volumnia his wife. 1Whether that was a public decision or the women's own fear, there is little agreement; 2at any rate they prevailed on Veturia, a woman of great age, and Volumnia, carrying her two little sons by Marcius, to go with them to the enemy's camp, so that, since the men could not defend the city with arms, the women might defend it with prayers and tears. 3When they reached the camp and it was announced to Coriolanus that a huge column of women was there, at first he, as one who had been moved neither by the majesty of the state in its envoys nor by the religious awe that poured so strongly over eyes and mind in its priests, was much more obstinate against women's tears.
4Then one of his friends, who had recognised Veturia, conspicuous for her grief among the rest, standing between her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren, said, 'Unless my eyes deceive me, your mother is here, and your wife and children.' 5Coriolanus, almost beside himself, rushed from his seat in dismay and was offering to embrace his mother as she met him, when the woman, turning from prayers to anger, said, 'Before I accept your embrace, let me know whether I have come to an enemy or to a son, whether I am a captive or a mother in your camp. 6Is it for this that long life and an unhappy old age have dragged me on, that I should see you an exile and then an enemy?
6Could you lay waste this land, which bore you and nourished you? 7Did your anger not fall away as you entered its borders, however hostile and threatening the spirit in which you came? 7When Rome was in sight, did it not occur to you, "Within those walls are my home and my household gods, my mother, wife and children"? 8So, if I had not given birth, Rome would not be under attack; 8if I had no son, I should have died free in a free country. 8But I can now suffer nothing that would be more shameful to you or more wretched for me, nor, most wretched as I shall be, shall I live long; 9look to these, for whom, if you go on, either an untimely death or long slavery waits.' 9Then his wife and children embraced him, and the weeping that arose from the whole crowd of women and their lamentation for themselves and their country at last broke the man.
10Then, having embraced his family, he sends them away; 10he himself moved his camp back from the city. 10Then, when he had led his legions away from Roman territory, he perished, they relate, overwhelmed by the odium of the deed, though some give one manner of death and some another. 10In Fabius, by far the most ancient authority, I find that he lived on to old age; 11he at any rate records that, when far advanced in years, he often used this saying, that exile is much more wretched for an old man. 11The men of Rome did not grudge the women their glory — so free from detraction of another's fame did people live then — and to serve as a monument, a temple was built and dedicated to Fortuna Muliebris.
12Then the Volsci, joined by the Aequi, returned into Roman territory, but the Aequi would no longer put up with Attius Tullius as leader. 13From this, out of a dispute whether the Volsci or the Aequi should give a general to the combined army, arose a quarrel and then a savage battle. 13There the good fortune of the Roman people destroyed two armies of the enemy in a contest no less ruinous than stubborn. 14The consuls were Titus Sicinius and Gaius Aquilius. 14To Sicinius the Volsci, to Aquilius the Hernici — for they too were in arms — fell as their command. 14That year the Hernici were defeated; 14with the Volsci the fighting ended even.