4.  But Coriola’nus[1] incurred their resentment, by insisting that the corn should not be distributed till the grievances of the senate were removed.  For this, the tribunes summoned him to a trial before the people.

[Illustration:  Banishment of Coriola’nus.]

5.  When the appointed day was come, all persons were filled with the greatest expectations, and a vast concourse from the adjacent country assembled and filled the forum.  Coriola’nus presented himself before the people, with a degree of intrepidity that merited better fortune.  His graceful person, his persuasive eloquence, and the cries of those whom he had saved from the enemy, inclined the auditors to relent. 6.  But, being unable to answer what was alleged against him to the satisfaction of the people, and utterly confounded with a new charge, of having embezzled the plunder of Antium, the tribunes immediately took the votes, and Coriola’nus was condemned to perpetual exile.

7.  This sentence against their bravest defender struck the senate with sorrow, consternation and regret.  Coriola’nus alone, in the midst of the tumult, seemed an unconcerned spectator. 8.  He returned home, followed by the lamentations of the most respectable senators and citizens, to take leave of his wife, his children, and his mother, Vetu’ria.  Thus, recommending all to the care of Heaven, he left the city, without followers or fortune, to take refuge with Tullus At’tius,[2] a man of great power among the Volsci, who took him under his protection, and espoused his quarrel.

9.  Some pretence was necessary to induce the Volsci to break the league which had been made with Rome; and, for this purpose, Tullus sent many of his citizens thither, apparently for the purpose of seeing some games at that time celebrating; but gave the senate private information, that the strangers had dangerous intentions of burning the city. 10.  This had the desired effect; the senate issued an order, that all strangers, whoever they were, should depart from Rome before sun-set. 11.  This order Tullus represented to his countrymen as an infraction of the treaty, and procured an embassy to Rome, complaining of the breach, and redemanding all the territories belonging to the Volsci, of which they had been violently dispossessed; declaring war in case of refusal.  This message, however, was treated by the senate with contempt. 12.  War being, in consequence, declared on both sides, Coriola’nus and Tullus were made generals of the Volsci, and accordingly invaded the Roman territories, ravaging and laying waste all such lands as belonged to the plebeians, but letting those of the senators remain untouched. 13.  In the mean time, the levies went on but slowly at Rome; the two consuls, who were re-elected by the people, seemed but little skilled in war, and even feared to encounter a general whom they knew to be their superior in the field.  The allies also showed their fears, and slowly brought