Appius ascends the tribunal; Horatius and Valerius follow him.

To them the assembly pays attention, they drown with clamour the voice of the decemvir.

Now Valerius authoritatively ordered the lictors to depart from one who was but a private citizen: when Appius, whose spirits were now broken, being alarmed for his life, betook himself into a house in the vicinity of the forum, unknown to his enemies, with his head covered up.

Spurius Oppius, in order to assist his colleague, rushes into the forum from the opposite side; he sees their authority overpowered by force.

Distracted then by various counsels between which he wavered, by assenting to several advisers from every side, he eventually ordered the senate to be convened.