1The multitude had been roused, and a struggle seemed imminent. 1The lictors had surrounded Icilius; 1yet matters went no further than threats, since Appius said that it was not Verginia who was being defended by Icilius, but that a restless man, still breathing the spirit of the tribunate even now, was looking for an occasion for sedition. 3He would not furnish him with material that day; 3but so that he might know now that this concession was made not to his insolence but to the absent Verginius, to the name of father and to liberty, he would not try the case that day nor issue a decree; 3he would ask Marcus Claudius to give up his right and allow the girl to be claimed as free until the following day; 4but unless the father appeared the next day, he gave notice to Icilius and to men like Icilius that neither would the law lack its author nor the decemvir his firmness.
4Nor would he in any case call together his colleagues' lictors to restrain the authors of sedition; 4he would be content with his own lictors. 5When the time for the injustice had been put off and the girl's supporters had withdrawn, it was decided first of all that Icilius' brother and Numitorius' son, energetic young men, should go straight from there to the gate, and that Verginius should be fetched from the camp as fast as could be managed: the girl's safety turned on this, whether the avenger of the injustice should be at hand in time the next day. 6They go as ordered and, riding at full speed, carry the message to the father.
6When the claimant pressed Icilius to make his claim and give sureties, and Icilius said that this was exactly what he was doing, deliberately wasting time until the messengers sent to the camp had got a head start on their journey, the multitude raised their hands on every side, and each man showed Icilius that he was ready to stand surety. 8And he, in tears, said, 'I am grateful; 8tomorrow I shall make use of your help; for now there are sureties enough.' 8So Verginia is claimed as free, with her kinsmen standing surety. 9Appius waited a little while, so as not to seem to have sat for the sake of that case; then, when no one approached him, since all other business had been dropped out of concern for one, he went home and wrote to his colleagues in the camp not to grant Verginius leave and even to keep him under guard.
10The wicked plan came too late, as it deserved to, and Verginius had already been granted leave and set out at the first watch, when the letter about detaining him was delivered, to no purpose, early the next morning.