V. When, then, Vindicius came before him and told him all that he knew in the presence only of his wife and his brother Marcus, Valerius was astounded and horrified.  He would not let the man go, but locked him up, set his wife to guard the door, and bade his brother to surround the king’s quarters, to seize the letter, if possible, keeping a strict watch over all the servants there.  He himself, with a large train of clients, friends and servants, went to the house of the Aquillii, who were not within.  As no one expected him, he pushed into the house and found the letter lying in the ambassadors’ apartments.

While he was thus employed, the Aquillii returned in haste, and assembling a force at the door endeavoured to take away the letter from him.  His own party came to his assistance, and with their gowns twisted round their necks with much buffeting made their way to the Forum.  The same thing happened at the king’s quarters, where Marcus laid hold of another letter which was being taken thither concealed among some baggage, and brought as many of the king’s party as he could into the Forum.

VI.  When the consuls had put a stop to the confusion, Vindicius, at Valerius’s command, was brought out of his prison, and a court was held.  The letters were recognised, and the culprits had nothing to say for themselves.  All were silent and downcast, and a few, thinking to please Brutus, hinted at banishment as the penalty of their crime.  Collatinus by his tears, and Valerius by his silence gave them hopes of mercy.  But Brutus, addressing each of his sons by name, said, “Come, Titus, come Tiberius, why do you make no answer to the charges against you?” As, after being asked thrice, they made no answer, he, turning his face to the lictors, said, “I have done my work, do yours.”  They immediately seized upon the young men, tore off their clothes, tied their hands behind their backs, and scourged them.  Although the people had not the heart to look at so dreadful a sight, yet it is said that Brutus never turned away his head, and showed no pity on his stern countenance, but sat savagely looking on at the execution of his sons until at last they were laid on the ground and their heads severed with an axe.  Then he handed over the rest of the culprits to be dealt with by his colleague, rose, and left the Forum.  His conduct cannot be praised, and yet it is above censure.  Either virtue in his mind overpowered every other feeling, or his sorrow was so great as to produce insensibility.  In neither case was there anything unworthy, or even human in his conduct, but it was either that of a god or a brute beast.  It is better, however, that we should speak in praise of so great a man rather than allow our weakness to distrust his virtue.  Indeed the Romans think that even the foundation of the city by Romulus was not so great an event as the confirmation of its constitution by Brutus.