Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Every schoolchild in Italy knows who PUT HIS HAND ON FIRE and for what reason: HONOR, stern and defeated honor, someone who pays for his own standing. It was Muzio Scevola (aka Caio Marzio or Muzio Cordo) who put his hand on fire.

Read below what the way of saying refers to:

It is said that in 508AC, after having been defeated by Orazio Coclite, Porsenna (an Etruscan comander) did not surrender and besieged Rome for such a long time that its end was near.
One night a young Roman, Caio Marzio, desguised as an Etruscan soldier, entered the enemy camp to kill the king.
He entered one wrong tent and killed his officer. He was arrested and led in front of Porsenna; he bravely put his right hand on a brazier saying:- I was going to kill you for the freedom of Rome. My hand made a mistake and now I punish it. But remember King! There are another three hundred young Romans ready to kill you!-
Porsenna astonished by his courage, accepted the peace and raised the siege.
Caio Marzio was called Scevola, which means left-handed and considered as a hero by the Romans.