§11.31.1τοιαῦτα τοῦ Νομιτωρίου λέξαντος καὶ τοῦ περιεστηκότος ὄχλου μεγάλῃ βοῇ διασημήναντος, ὡς δίκαια ἀξιοῖ, μικρὸν ἐπισχὼν χρόνον Ἄππιος· ἐγὼ τὸν μὲν νόμον, εἶπεν, οὐκ ἀγνοῶ τὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς διεγγυήσεως τῶν εἰς δουλείαν ἀγομένων κείμενον, ὃς οὐκ ἐᾷ παρὰ τοῖς ἀφαιρουμένοις εἶναι τὸ σῶμα μέχρι δίκης, οὐδὲ καταλύσαιμι ἂν ὃν αὐτὸς ἔγραψα ἑκών· ἐκεῖνο μέντοι δίκαιον ἡγοῦμαι, δυεῖν ὄντων τῶν ἀντιποιουμένων, κυρίου καὶ πατρός, εἰ μὲν ἀμφότεροι παρῆσαν, τὸν πατέρα κρατεῖν τοῦ σώματος μέχρι δίκης.
When Numitorius had spoken thus and the surrounding crowd had signaled with a great shout that his demands were just, Appius, having waited for a short time, said: "I am not ignorant of the law established concerning the bail of those who are being dragged into slavery, which does not allow their persons to be in the hands of those who are depriving them of freedom until the trial, nor would I willingly abrogate what I myself wrote; however, I deem this to be just, that when there are two claimants, the master and the father, if indeed both were present, the father should hold the person until the trial.
§11.31.2ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐκεῖνος ἄπεστι, τὸν κύριον ἀπαγαγεῖν ἐγγυητὰς ἀξιοχρέους δόντα καταστήσειν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρχήν, ὅταν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς παραγένηται.
But since the father is absent, it is just for the master to lead her away, having given solvent sureties that he will produce her before the magistrate when her father arrives.
περὶ δὲ τῶν ἐγγυητῶν καὶ τοῦ τιμήματος καὶ τοῦ μηδὲν ὑμᾶς ἐλαττωθῆναι περὶ τὴν δίκην, πολλὴν ποιήσομαι πρόνοιαν, ὦ Νομιτώριε.
Concerning the sureties, the amount of bail, and that you suffer no disadvantage in the trial, I will take great forethought, O Numitorius.
§11.31.3νῦν δὲ παράδος τὴν κόρην. τοῦτο τὸ τέλος ἐξενέγκαντος Ἀππίου πολὺς μὲν ὀδυρμὸς ὑπὸ τῆς παρθένου καὶ τῶν περὶ αὐτὴν γυναικῶν ἐγίνετο καὶ κοπετός, πολλὴ δὲ κραυγὴ καὶ ἀγανάκτησις ἐκ τοῦ περιεστηκότος ὄχλου τὸ βῆμα.
But now, deliver up the girl." When Appius had pronounced this decision, there was great lamentation by the maiden and the women around her, and beating of breasts, and a great shout and indignation from the crowd surrounding the tribunal.
ὁ δὲ μέλλων ἄγεσθαι τὴν κόρην Ἰκίλιος ἐμφύεταί τε αὐτῆς καί φησιν· οὐκ ἐμοῦ γε ζῶντος, Ἄππιε, ταύτην ἀπάξεταί τις.
And Icilius, who was about to marry the girl, clung to her and said: "Not while I am alive, Appius, shall anyone lead this girl away.
§11.31.4ἀλλʼ εἴ σοι δέδοκται τοὺς νόμους καταλύειν, τὰ δὲ δίκαια συγχεῖν καὶ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἡμῶν ἀφαιρεῖσθαι, μηκέτι τὴν ὀνειδιζομένην ὑμῖν ἀρνοῦ τυραννίδα, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἐμὸν ἀποκόψας τράχηλον ταύτην τε ἀπαγαγεῖν, ὅπου σοι δοκεῖ, καὶ τὰς ἄλλας παρθένους καὶ γυναῖκας, ἵνα δὴ μάθωσιν ἤδη ποτὲ Ῥωμαῖοι δοῦλοι γεγονότες ἀντʼ ἐλευθέρων, καὶ μηδὲν ἔτι μεῖζον φρονῶσι τῆς τύχης.
But if you are resolved to abrogate the laws, to confound justice, and to take away our freedom, deny no longer the tyranny with which you are reproached, but having cut off my neck, lead both her away wherever you please, and the other maidens and women, so that the Romans may finally learn that they have become slaves instead of free men, and may no longer think anything greater than their fortune.
§11.31.5τί οὖν ἔτι μέλλεις, ἀλλʼ οὐ τοὐμὸν ἐκχεῖς αἷμα πρὸ τοῦ βήματος ἐν τοῖς ἁπάντων ὀφθαλμοῖς;
Why then do you still delay, and not pour out my blood before the tribunal in the eyes of everyone?
ἴσθι μέντοι σαφῶς, ὅτι ἤτοι μεγάλων κακῶν ἄρξει Ῥωμαίοις ὁ θάνατος οὑμὸς ἢ μεγάλων ἀγαθῶν.
Know indeed clearly, that my death will be the beginning either of great evils for the Romans or of great goods."