28.29
"Coriolanus was once driven to make
war on his country by an iniquitous sentence which condemned him to
dishonoured and forlorn exile, but his affection as a son recalled him from
the crime which he was meditating as a citizen. What have you suffered to
call out this bitter hostility? Did you proclaim war against your country, did
you desert the people of Rome in favour of the Ilergetes, did you trample
underfoot all law, human and divine, simply because your pay was a few
days in arrear owing to your general's illness? There is no doubt about it,
soldiers, you were seized with madness; the bodily illness from which I
suffered was not one whit more severe than the mental malady which
overtook you. I shrink with horror from dwelling upon the credit men gave
to rumours, the hopes they entertained, the ambitious schemes they formed.
Let all be forgotten, if possible, or if not that, let silence at least draw a veil
over all. I admit that my words have appeared stern and unfeeling to you, but
how much more unfeeling, think you, has your conduct been than anything I
have said? You imagine that it is right and proper for me to tolerate your
actions, and yet you have not patience to hear them mentioned. Bad as they
are however, I will not reproach you with them any longer; I only wish you
may forget them as easily as I shall. As for the army as a body, if you
sincerely repent of your wrongdoing you give me satisfaction enough and
more than enough. Albius of Cales and Atrius of Umbria with the other
ringleaders in this detestable mutiny will expiate their crime with their blood.
The sight of their punishment ought to give you satisfaction rather than pain,
if indeed you have recovered your sanity, for their designs would have
proved more mischievous and destructive to you than to any one else." He
had hardly finished speaking when, at a preconcerted signal, the eyes and
ears of his audience were assailed by everything which could terrify and
appal. The army which was on guard all round the assembly clashed their
swords against their shields, and the voice of the usher was heard calling
over the names of those who had been sentenced in the council or war.
These were stripped to the waist and conducted into the middle of the
assembly; all the apparatus of punishment was at once brought out; they
were tied to the stake, scourged and finally beheaded. The spectators were
so benumbed by terror that no voice was raised against the severity of the
punishment, not even a groan was heard. Then the bodies were all dragged
away, and after the place was cleansed, the soldiers were summoned each by
name to take the oath of obedience to P. Scipio before the military tribunes.
Then they each received the pay due to them. Such was the end and issue of
the mutiny which started amongst the soldiers at Sucro.