Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

FEMALE INFLUENCE.--An ANECDOTE.

CORIOLANUS, a Roman patrician, having been banished Rome by the intrigues of a faction, retired to the Volsci, by whom he was well received. This nation having, at that time, received insults from the Romans, resolved on a war, and glad of the opportunity, placed Coriolanus at the head of their troops, under whom they became very successful, taking many cities, and laying waste the territories of the republic, and even encamping within five miles of Rome, which filled the citizens with the greatest consternation; and being terrified at the approach of so formidable an enemy, endeavoured to appease his anger by abolishing the decree of Coriolanus's banishment, and sending deputies to solicit his return to the capitol. These he treated with contempt, and their invitation he rejected, yet gave them a truce for a short time on terms the most humiliating; and, in the mean time, made new conquests in a more distant part of their country. At the expiration of the truce he returned before Rome, when he received two other deputations with as little success as the former; which made the Romans look upon their republic as lost, and they gave themselves up to despair. Such was the face of affairs in the city, when Valeria, a noble matron, convened the other ladies of Rome, and suggested to them, that they should apply to Coriolanus, and intercede with him, saying, "What men could not do, women may perhaps, accomplish." She prevailed upon Veturia, the mother of Coriolanus, with his wife and children, to join in the attempt, and the senate approved of the resolution. Their interview with the general was affecting, but had little success, till maternal affection, joined with female influence, which will soften the most obdurate, induced him to comply with their solicitations, and in consequence of it, a favourable peace was concluded, and the senate decreed the greatest honours to the negotiators. To perpetuate this transaction, a temple and statue was built on the spot, at the expense of the public, to the "Fortune of Women," and Valeria was the first priestess of this sanctuary.