in their succours:  so that Coriola’nus continued to take their towns one after the other. 14.  Fortune followed him in every expedition, and he was now so famous for his victories, that the Volsci left their towns defenceless to follow him into the field.  The very soldiers of his colleague’s army came over to him, and would acknowledge no other general. 15.  Thus finding himself unopposed in the field, and at the head of a numerous army, he at length invested the city of Rome itself, fully resolved to besiege it. 16.  It was then the senate and the people unanimously agreed to send deputies to him, with proposals for his restoration, in case he would draw off his army. 17.  Coriola’nus received these proposals at the head of his principal officers, and, with the sternness of a general that was to give the law, refused their offers.

18.  Another embassy was now sent, conjuring him not to exact from his native city aught but what became Romans to grant.  Coriola’nus, however, naturally severe, still persisted in his former demands, and granted them only three days for deliberation. 19.  In this exigence, all that was left to be done was another deputation, still more solemn than either of the former, composed of the pontiffs, priests, and augurs.  These, clothed in their habits of ceremony, and with a grave and mournful deportment, issued from the city, and entered the camp of the conqueror:  but all in vain, they found him severe and inflexible.

[Illustration:  Coriolanus yielding to the entreaties of his Mother.]

20.  When the people saw them return without success, they began to give up the commonwealth as lost.  Their temples were filled with old men, with women and children, who, prostrate at the altars, put up their ardent prayers for the preservation of their country.  Nothing was to be heard but anguish and lamentation; nothing to be seen but scenes of affright and distress. 21.  At length it was suggested to them, that what could not be effected by the intercession of the senate, or the adjuration of the priests, might be brought about by the tears of a wife, or the commands of a mother. 22.  This deputation seemed to be approved by all, and even the senate themselves gave it the sanction of their authority.  Vetu’ria, the mother of Coriola’nus, at first hesitated to undertake so pious a work; knowing the inflexible temper of her son, and fearing only to show his disobedience in a new point of light, by his rejecting the commands of a parent; however, she at last undertook the embassy, and set forward from the city, accompanied by many of the principal matrons of Rome, with Volum’nia his wife, and his two children. 23.  Coriola’nus, who at a distance discovered this mournful train of females, was resolved to give them a denial, and called his officers round him to be witnesses of his resolution; but, when told that his mother and his wife were among the number, he instantly came down from his tribunal to meet and embrace them. 24.  At first, the women’s