History of Rome

​The multitude was excited, and a conflict seemed to be imminent. The lictors had surrounded Icilius; however, they did not proceed beyond threats, ​because Appius said that Virginia was not being defended by Icilius, but that a restless man, still breathing the spirit of the tribunate, was seeking a place for sedition.

​He said that he would not afford him any material on that day; but so that he might know that this was granted not to his petulance, but to the absent Verginius, to the name of father, and to freedom, he would not administer justice on that day nor interpose his decree; he would ask Marcus Claudius to waive his right and suffer the girl to be claimed for freedom until the following day;

​and that if the father were not present on the following day, he gave notice to Icilius and those like Icilius that neither its proposer would fail his own law, nor firmness fail a decemvir. Nor would he by any means summon his colleagues’ lictors to coerce the authors of sedition; he would be content with his own lictors.

​When the time of the injury had been deferred and the advocates of the girl had withdrawn, it was resolved first of all that the brother of Icilius and the son of Numitorius, active young men, should go from there straight to the gate, and, as quickly as it could be accelerated, Verginius should be summoned from the camp;

​for upon this depended the safety of the girl, if on the following day the defender against the injury should be present in time. Having been ordered, they set out and, with spurred horses, carried the message to the father. When the claimant of the girl was pressing on, ​that he should claim her and give guarantors, and Icilius kept saying that this very thing was being done, purposely spinning out the time until the messengers sent to the camp might gain a head start on their journey, the multitude raised their hands on all sides, and everyone showed himself ready to act as guarantor for Icilius.

​And he, tearfully, said, “I am grateful; tomorrow I will make use of your assistance; now there are enough guarantors.” Thus Virginia was claimed for freedom, her relatives acting as guarantors.

​Appius, having lingered for a short time lest he should seem to have sat there for the sake of that affair, after nobody approached because they had neglected other matters out of concern for this single one, withdrew home and wrote to his colleagues in the camp not to grant leave of absence to Verginius and even to keep him under guard.

​This wicked design was too late, as was fitting; and Verginius, having already obtained leave, had set out at the first watch, when on the following morning the letter about detaining him was delivered in vain.