Arise
and come with us to Marcius; join in our supplication, for your
country's sake."
The words of Valeria were seconded by the acclamations of the
other women, to which Volumnia made answer:-
"I and Vergilia, my countrywomen, have an equal share with you all
in the common miseries, and we have the additional sorrow, which
is wholly ours, that we have lost the merit and good fame of
Marcius, and see his person confined, rather than protected by the
arms of the enemy. Make use, however, of our service; and lead us,
if you please, to him; we are able, if nothing more, at least to
spend our last breath in making suit to him for our country."
Having spoken thus, she took Vergilia by the hand, and the young
children, and so accompanied them to the Volscian camp. so
lamentable a sight much affected the enemies themselves, who
viewed them in respectful silence. Marcius, seeing the party of
women advance, came down hastily to meet them, saluting his mother
first, and embracing her a long time, and then his wife and
children, sparing neither tears nor cares, but suffering himself
to be borne away and carried headlong, as it were, but the
impetuous violence of his passion.
when he had satisfied himself, and observed that his mother
Volumnia was desirous to say something, the Volscian council being
first called in, he heard her to the following effect: "Our dress
and our very persons, my son, might tell you, though we should say
nothing ourselves, in how forlorn a condition we have lived at
home since your banishment and absence from us; and now consider
with yourself, whether we may not pass for the most unfortunate of
all women, to have that sight, which should be the sweetest that
we could see, converted, through I know not what fatality, to one
of all others the most formidable and dreadful, --Volumnia to
behold her son, and Vergilia her husband, in arms against the
walls of Rome.
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