said aught that was harsh to thee, that thou wilt pardon it, knowing how a father must needs suffer in such a case.  But now suffer me to inquire somewhat of this woman that is the girl’s nurse, that I may know what is the truth of the matter.  For if I have been deceived in the matter, and am not in truth father to the girl, I shall be more content.”  Then, Appius giving permission, he led his daughter and her nurse a little space aside, to the shops that are by the temple of Cloacina, and snatching a knife from a butcher’s, said, “My daughter, there is but this one way that I can make thee free,” and he drave the knife into her breast.  Then he looked back to the judgment-seat and cried, “With this blood, Appius, I devote thee and thy life to perdition.”  There went up a great cry from all that stood there when they saw so dreadful a deed, and Appius commanded that they should seize him.  But no man laid hands on him, for he made a way for himself with the knife that he carried in his hand, and they that followed defended him, till he came to the gate of the city.  Then Icilius and Numitorius took up the dead body of the maiden and showed it to the people, saying much of the wickedness of him who had driven a father to do such a deed, and much also of the liberty which had been taken from them, and which, if they would only use this occasion, they might now recover.  As for Appius, he cried out to his lictors that they should lay hands on Icilius, and when the crowd suffered not the lictors to approach, would himself have made a way to him, by the help of the young nobles that stood by him.  But now the crowd had leaders, themselves also nobles, Valerius and Horatius.  These said, “If Appius would deal with Icilius according to law we will be securities for him; if he mean to use violence, we are ready to meet him.”  And when the lictor would have laid hands on these two the multitude brake his rods to pieces.  Then Appius would have spoken to the people, but they clamored against him, so that at last, losing all courage and fearing for his life, he covered his head and fled secretly to his own house.

Meanwhile Virginius had made his way to the camp, which was now on Mount Vecilius, and stirred up the army yet more than he had stirred the city.  “Lay not to my charge,” he said, “that which is in truth the wickedness of Appius; neither turn from me as from the murderer of my daughter.  Her indeed I slew, thinking that death was better than slavery and shame; nor indeed had I survived her but that I hoped to avenge her death by the help of my comrades.”  Others also that had come from the city persuaded the soldiers; some saying that the power of the Ten was overthrown, and others that Appius had gone of his own accord into banishment.  These words so prevailed with the soldiers that, without any bidding from their generals, they took up their arms, and, with their standards carried before them, came to Rome and pitched their camp on the Aventine.