§3.46.1concitata multitudo erat certamenque instare videbatur.
The multitude was excited, and a conflict seemed to be imminent.
lictores Icilium circumsteterant; nec ultra minas tamen processum est, §3.46.2cum Appius non Verginiam defendi ab Icilio, sed inquietum hominem et tribunatum etiam nunc spirantem locum seditionis quaerere diceret.
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.
§3.46.3non praebiturum se illi eo die materiam; sed ut iam sciret non id petulantiae suae, sed Verginio absenti et patrio nomini et libertati datum, ius eo die se non dicturum neque decretur interpositurum; a M. Claudio petiturum, ut decederet iure suo vindicarique puellam in posterum diem pateretur; §3.46.4quod nisi pater postero die adfuisset, denuntiare se Icilio similibusque Icili, neque legi suae latorem neque decemviro constantiam defore.
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.
nec se utique collegarum lictores convocaturum ad coercendos seditionis auctores; contentum se suis lictoribus fore.
Nor would he by any means summon his colleagues' lictors to coerce the authors of sedition; he would be content with his own lictors.
§3.46.5cum dilatum tempus iniuriae esset secessissentque advocati puellae, placuit omnium primum fratrem Icili filiumque Numitori, inpigros iuvenes, pergere inde recta ad portam, et, quantum accelerari posset, Verginium acciri e castris: §3.46.6in eo verti puellae salutem, si postero die vindex iniuriae ad tempus praesto esset.
When the time of the injury had been deferred and the advocates of the girl had withdrawn, it was resolved first of all that the brother of Icilius and the son of Numitorius, active young men, should go from there straight to the gate, and, as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.
iussi pergunt citatisque equis nuntium ad patrem perferunt.
Having been ordered, they set out and, with spurred horses, carried the message to the father.
cum instaret adsertor puellae, §3.46.7ut vindicaret sponsoresque daret, atque id ipsum agi diceret Icilius sedulo tempus terens, dum praeciperent iter nuntii missi in castra, manus tollere undique multitudo et se quisque paratum ad spondendum Icilio ostendere.
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.
§3.46.8atque ille lacrimabundus “gratum est” inquit; “crastina die vestra opera utar, sponsorum nunc satis est. ” ita vindicatur Verginia spondentibus propinquis.
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.
§3.46.9Appius paulisper moratus, ne eius rei causa sedisse videretur, postquam omissis rebus aliis prae cura unius nemo adibat, domum se recepit collegisque in castra scribit, ne Verginio commeatum dent atque etiam in custodia habeant.
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.
§3.46.10inprobum consilium serum, ut debuit, fuit, et iam commeatu sumpto profectus Verginius prima vigilia erat, cum postero die mane de retinendo eo nequiquam litterae redduntur.
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.