Titus Livius, Ab Urbe Condita 3.46.5-7

Once the matter has been postponed and Verginia's advocates have withdrawn, it is decided that the brother of Icilius and the son of Numitorius, two energetic young men, should ride straight to the gate and summon Verginius from the camp as quickly as possible, since the girl's safety depends on having her defender present in court the next day; meanwhile as Marcus presses Icilius to produce sureties, Icilius deliberately stalls for time while the messengers ride ahead, and the whole crowd raises their hands offering to stand surety for him.

 

Tier 1

Cum tempus iniuriae retentum esset et advocati puellae reliquissent, id constitutum est ut primum omnium duos industrios iuvenes, fratrem Icili et filium Numitoris, pergere ab eo loco recta ad portam, et Verginium vocari e castris quam celerrime;

Salutem puellae est in eo consilio. Is, qui Verginiam ab iniuria defendere potest, esse praesto ad tempus debet. Nuntii iussi pergunt rapidis equis et perferunt nuntium ad Verginium.

Cum Marcus Claudius, proclamans se esse dominus Verginiae, postularet ut Icilius clamationem faciat et daret sponsores. Icilius dicebat id ipsum adi, terrens tempus caute, ut nuntii in castra praeciperent. Omnes cives praesentes manum suam tollebant, et quisque se paratum esse ad spondendum (to sponsor, offer surety for) Icilio ostendebat.

Written by Robert Amstutz