During the early years of the Republic, the Etruscan king Porsinna had the city of Rome under siege when a young Roman named Mucius was captured during an assassination attempt. Mucius taunted Porsinna by saying that he was the first of many Romans who had sworn to kill the king. Porsinna threatened Mucius with torture if he did not divulge all the details of the plot, but Mucius thrust his own right hand into the fire to prove that he was impervious to pain, whereupon Porsinna set him free in recognition of his courage. In fear of further assassination attempts, Porsinna made a treaty with Rome—the Etruscans would withdraw the siege but Rome would have to hand over young Roman men and women as hostages.

patres C. Mucio virtutis causa trans Tiberim agrum dono dedere, quae postea sunt Mucia prata appellata. ergo ita honorata virtute, feminae quoque ad publica decora excitatae, et Cloelia virgo una ex obsidibus, cum castra Etruscorum forte haud procul ripa Tiberis locata essent, frustrata custodes, dux agminis virginum inter tela hostium Tiberim tranavit, sospitesque omnes Romam ad propinquos restituit. quod ubi regi nuntiatum est, primo incensus ira oratores Romam misit ad Cloeliam obsidem deposcendam: alias haud magni facere. deinde in admirationem versus, supra Coclites Muciosque dicere id facinus esse, et prae se ferre quemadmodum si non dedatur obses, pro rupto foedus se habiturum, sic deditam [intactam] inviolatamque ad suos remissurum. utrimque constitit fides; et Romani pignus pacis ex foedere restituerunt, et apud regem Etruscum non tuta solum sed honorata etiam virtus fuit, laudatamque virginem parte obsidum se donare dixit; ipsa quos vellet legeret. productis omnibus elegisse impubes dicitur; quod et virginitati decorum et consensu obsidum ipsorum probabile erat eam aetatem potissimum liberari ab hoste quae maxime opportuna iniuriae esset. pace redintegrata Romani novam in femina virtutem novo genere honoris, statua equestri, donavere; in summa Sacra via fuit posita virgo insidens equo.

For help in translating this passage, visit the Perseus web site for a version of the Latin text with links to the meaning and morphology of all the words. Close this window when finished.