Livy I 26 p. 57

Livy I 26 p. 57

Tum Horatius, auctore Tullo, clemente legis interprete, “Provoco” inquit. Itaque provocatione certatum ad populum est. Moti homines sunt in eo iudicio maxime P. Horatio patre proclamante se filiam iure caesam (esse) iudicare;

Then by the authority of Tullus, a merciful interpreter of the law, Horatius said “I appeal.” Thus by the appeal it was brought before the people (=the brought the case to the people). In this trial the people were moved greatly by Publius Horatius, the father, who was proclaiming that he himself judged that his daughter had been cut down justly.

dicebat enim, ni ita esset, patrio iure in filium animadversurum fuisse. Orabat deinde ne se, quem paulo ante cum egregia stirpe conspexissent, orbum liberis facerent.

For he was saying that, if that were not the case, he would have punished his son by his paternal authority. Then he was begging them not to deprive him of his children, him whom they had seen a little while ago with his distinguished offspring.

Inter haec senex iuvenem amplexus, spolia Curiatiorum fixa eo loco qui nunc Pila Horatia appellatur ostentans, “Huncine” aiebat, “quem modo decoratum ovantemque victoria incedentem vidistis, Quirites, eum sub furca vinctum inter verbera et cruciatus videre potestis?

During these (words) the old man having embraced the young man, showing the spoils of the Curiatii which were fastened to that place which is now called “The Spears of Horatius,” he was saying “This man, the very one whom you just saw marching decorated and rejoicing at his victory, Quirites, are you all able to watch him bound under the gallows between whips and torments?

Quod vix Albanorum oculi tam deforme spectaculum ferre possent. I, lector, colliga manus, quae paulo ante armatae imperium populo Romano pepererunt. I, caput obnube liberatoris urbis huius; arbore infelici suspende;

Such a deformed spectacle which even the eyes of the Albans could hardly endure.  Go, lictor, tie the hands, which a little while ago were armed and provided power to the Roman People.  Go, cover the head of the liberator of this city, hang (him) from a barren tree.

verbera vel intra pomerium, modo inter illa pila et spolia hostium, vel extra pomerium, modo inter sepulcra Curiatiorum; quo enim ducere hunc iuvenem potestis ubi non sua decora eum a tanta foeditate supplicii vindicent?”

Beat him either inside the city boundaries, provided that (you beat him) amongst those spears and spoils of the enemies, or outside the city, provided that (you beat him) amongst the graves of the Curiatii; for to which place can you lead this young man where his honor could not protect him from such a foul punishment?”