Liv. 3.47.1At in urbe prīmā lūce cum cīvitās in forō expectātiōne ērēcta stāret, Verginius sordidātus fīliam sēcum obsolētā veste comitantibus aliquot mātronīs cum ingentī advocātiōne in forum dēdūcit.But 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. Liv. 3.47.2Circumīre ibi et prēnsāre hominēs coepit et nōn ōrāre sōlum precāriam opem, sed prō dēbitā petere: sē prō līberīs eōrum ac coniugibus cottīdiē in aciē stāre, nec alium virum esse, cuius strēnuē ac fortiter facta in bellō plūra memorārī possent;There 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; Liv. 3.47.2quid prōdesse, sī incolumī urbe, quae captā ultima timeantur, līberīs suīs sint patienda?what 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?
Liv. 3.47.3Haec prope cōntiōnābundus circumībat hominēs.Saying such things, almost as if haranguing an assembly, he went round among the people. Liv. 3.47.4Similia hīs ab Iciliō iactābantur.Similar words were thrown out by Icilius. Liv. 3.47.4Comitātus muliebris plūs tacitō flētū quam ūlla vōx movēbat.The company of women moved people more by their silent weeping than any words could. Liv. 3.47.4Adversus quae omnia obstinātō animō Appius — tanta vīs āmentiae vērius quam amōris mentem turbāverat — in tribūnal ēscendit, et ultrō querente pauca petītōre, quod iūs sibi prīdiē per ambitiōnem dictum nōn esset, priusquam aut ille postulātum perageret aut Verginiō respondendī darētur locus, Appius interfātur.Against 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. Liv. 3.47.4Quem dēcrētō sermōnem praetenderit, forsan aliquem vērum auctōrēs antīquī trādiderint;Perhaps the ancient authorities have handed down some genuine speech that he put forward to justify his decree; Liv. 3.47.5quia nūsquam ūllum in tantā foeditāte dēcrētī vērī similem inveniō, id, quod cōnstat, nūdum vidētur prōpōnendum, dēcrēsse vindiciās secundum servitūtem.since 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.
Liv. 3.47.6Prīmō stupor omnēs admīrātiōne reī tam atrōcis dēfīxit;At first astonishment at so atrocious an act struck everyone motionless; Liv. 3.47.6silentium inde aliquamdiū tenuit.then silence held for some time. Liv. 3.47.6Dein, cum M. Claudius circumstantibus mātronīs īret ad prēndendam virginem lāmentābilisque eum mulierum complōrātiō excēpisset, Verginius intentāns in Appium manūs "Iciliō" inquit, "Appī, nōn tibi fīliam dēspondī et ad nūptiās, nōn ad stuprum ēducāvī.Then, 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. Liv. 3.47.7Placet pecudum ferārumque rītū prōmiscuē in concubitūs ruere?Is it your pleasure to rush into coupling indiscriminately, in the manner of cattle and wild beasts? Liv. 3.47.7Passūrīne haec istī sint, nesciō;Whether these men here will endure it, I do not know; Liv. 3.47.7nōn spērō esse passūrōs illōs, quī arma habent."I do not expect that those who have weapons will endure it.' Liv. 3.47.8Cum repellerētur adsertor virginis ā globō mulierum circumstantiumque advocātōrum, silentium factum per praecōnem.As the maiden's claimant was being pushed back by the knot of women and the supporters standing round, silence was proclaimed by the herald.