Titus Livius, Ab Urbe Condita 3.46.8-10

A tearful Icilius thanks the crowd for their pledges and Verginia is released on the surety of her relatives; Appius lingers briefly so as not to appear to have stayed only for her case, then goes home and writes to his colleagues at camp ordering them to deny Verginius leave and keep him under guard, but the scheme comes too late — Verginius has already set out at the first watch, and the letter arrives the next morning to no effect.

 

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Et Icilius lacrimans "gratum est" inquit, "cras utar (I will use) vestra opera; nunc satis est sponsurum." In eo modo Verginia proclamantur spondentibus qui in familia eius sunt.

Appius expectabat brevi ne tantum causa huius puellae sedisse videretur. Post hanc causam, quoniam nemo adibat propter curam unius causae, Appius se domi recepit et scribit collegis in castra. Appius Scripsit ne Verginio exire castris liceat, etiam collegae Verginium in custodia habeant.

Ut debuit, consilium malum nimis serum fuit, et Verginius iam profectus erat prima hora vigiliae. Litterae, de retinendo Verginio, advenit frustra postero die mane.

Written by Robert Amstutz