1But in the city at first light, as the citizens stood in the Forum, keyed up with expectation, Verginius, in mourning clothes, leads his daughter, also in shabby clothing, down into the Forum, attended by several matrons and with a huge body of supporters. 2There he began to go round and grasp men's hands, and to ask for help not only as a favour but as something owed: he stood in the battle line every day for their children and wives, nor was there any other man whose brave and vigorous deeds in war could be recounted in greater number; 2what good was it if, while the city was unharmed, his children had to suffer what is feared as the worst when a city is captured?
3Saying such things, almost as if haranguing an assembly, he went round among the people. 4Similar words were thrown out by Icilius. 4The company of women moved people more by their silent weeping than any words could. 4Against all this Appius, with obstinate mind — such a force of madness, more truly than of love, had disordered his wits — mounts the tribunal, and when the claimant had gone so far as to complain briefly that justice had not been done him the day before through partisanship, before he could complete his demand or Verginius be given a chance to reply, Appius interrupts. 4Perhaps the ancient authorities have handed down some genuine speech that he put forward to justify his decree; 5since I find none anywhere that is credible in a decree so foul, it seems that I must set out the bare fact that is agreed on: that he awarded custody in favour of slavery.
6At first astonishment at so atrocious an act struck everyone motionless; 6then silence held for some time. 6Then, as Marcus Claudius, with the matrons standing round, was going to seize the maiden, and the women's pitiful wailing had greeted him, Verginius, stretching out his hands threateningly towards Appius, said, 'It was to Icilius, Appius, not to you, that I betrothed my daughter, and I brought her up for marriage, not for rape. 7Is it your pleasure to rush into coupling indiscriminately, in the manner of cattle and wild beasts? 7Whether these men here will endure it, I do not know; 7I do not expect that those who have weapons will endure it.' 8As the maiden's claimant was being pushed back by the knot of women and the supporters standing round, silence was proclaimed by the herald.