tears and embraces took away the power of words, and the rough soldier himself, hardy as he was, could not refrain, from sharing their distress.  Coriola’nus now seemed much agitated by contending passions; while his mother, who saw him moved, seconded her words by the most persuasive eloquence, that of tears:  his wife and children hung around him, entreating for protection and pity:  while the female train, her companions, added their lamentations, and deplored their own and their country’s distress. 25.  Coriola’nus for a moment was silent, feeling the strong conflict between honour and inclination; at length, as if roused from a dream, he flew to raise his mother, who had fallen at his feet, crying out, “O, my mother, thou hast saved Rome, but lost thy son!” He accordingly gave orders to draw off the army, pretending to the officers that the city was too strong to be taken. 26.  Tullus, who had long envied Coriola’nus, was not remiss in aggravating the lenity of his conduct to his countrymen.  Upon their return, Coriola’nus is said to have been slain by an insurrection of the people, and honourably buried, after a late and ineffectual repentance.

27.  Great and many were the public rejoicings at Rome upon the retreat of the Volscian army;[3] but they were clouded soon after by the intrigues of Spu’rius Cas’sius, who, wanting to make himself despotic by means of the people, was found guilty of a number of crimes, all tending towards altering the constitution; and was thrown headlong from the Tarpei’an rock,[4] by those very people whose interests he had endeavoured to extend.

Questions for Examination.

1.  What were the consequences of the late separation?

2.  What measures were taken to remedy these misfortunes, and to whom was the blame of them attributed?

3.  What happened to remove the popular discontent?

4.  What circumstances raised a fresh commotion?

5.  Did Coriolanus obey the summons?

6.  What was the issue of the trial?

7.  To what sensations did this sentence give rise?

8.  What circumstance attended his departure?

9.  In what manner did he commence his revenge?

10.  Was this information believed?

11.  What use did Tullus make of this order?

12.  To whom was the conduct of the war committed?

13.  Was this invasion vigorously opposed?

14.  Was Coriolanus uniformly successful?

15.  What did this good fortune induce him to undertake?

16.  What measures did the senate adopt on this emergency?

17.  How were these proposals received?

18.  Were they repeated?

19.  What was the next step adopted?

20.  Did the Romans boldly resolve to oppose force by force?

21.  What new expedient was proposed?

22.  Was this proposal adopted?

23.  What was the conduct of Coriola’nus on the occasion?