An argument wherin the apparaile of women is both reproued and defended

T. L. Decad. 4. lib. 4.

EMonge the cares of the greatte warres, eyther yet scarsely fini∣shed, or like to continue, there happened a small thyng to be spoken of, though neuerthelesse it increased by parttakynges to great contencion. Marcus Fundanius, and Lucius Va∣lerius tribunes, proponed vnto the people the abrogacion of the law cal∣led Oppia. This law was set foorth by Caius Oppius, one of the tribu∣nes, whan Quintus Fabius, and Titus Sempronius were Consules, as the greattest heate of the punike war•…•… that no woman shoulde haue aboue halfe an ounce of golde in his appa∣rayle, nor weare garmentes wrought of diuers colours, nor shoulde ryde in chariottes in Rouse or other towne, or within a myle of any of them, onlesse it were to the open sacrifices. Mar∣cus

and Publius Iunij Brutij lyke wyse beeyng tribunes of the people, defended the law Oppia, saiyng: They woulde not suffre it to be an∣nulled. And many noble men drew to∣gether some to perswade, and some to disswade the mattier. In so muche that the Capitoll was replenyshed with a multitude of men, aduaunsyng and repugnyng this law. The ma∣trones, neither for feare of autho∣ritee, nor for shame, nor yet for the commandement of theyr housbandes coulde bee kept in: but fitted all the stretes of the citee, and kept the waies enteryng in to the high strete, entrea∣tyng all men as thei passed: that see∣yng theyr common wealth florisshed, and euery mans priuate good fortune daiely increased, they wolde be con∣tented, that the matrones might also be restored vnto their auncient orna∣mentes. This frequensie of women

daiely increased. For the women of the townes and villages nere there a∣bout resorted to the citee, and toke on theim so muche courage, that they went to the Consules, the Pretors, and the other magistrates, besechyng theim to fauour their cause. But Marcus Porcius Cato was so extreme an aduersarie agaynst theyr desyres, that for the maintenance of the law, whiche they sought to abrogate, he made this oracion.