of themselves: "How long," says he, "will you be
ignorant of your own strength, which nature has not wished even the
brutes to be ignorant of? At least count how many you are, and how many
enemies you have. Even if each of you were to attack an individual
antagonist, still I should suppose that you would strive more vigorously
in defence of liberty, than they in defence of tyranny. For as many of
you as have been clients around each single patron, in the same number
will ye be against a single enemy. Only make a show of war; ye shall
have peace. Let them see you prepared for open force; they themselves
will relax their pretensions. Collectively you must attempt something,
or individually submit to every thing. How long will you look to me? I
for my part will not be wanting to any of you: do you see that my
fortune fail not. I, your avenger, when my enemies thought well of it,
was suddenly reduced to nothing; and you all in a body beheld that
person thrown into chains, who had warded off chains from each one of
you. What am I to hope, if my enemies attempt more against me? Am I to
expect the fate of Cassius and Maelius? You acted kindly in appearing
shocked at it: the gods will avert it: but never will they come down
from heaven on my account: they must inspire you with a determination to
avert it; as they inspired me, in arms and in peace, to defend you from
barbarous foes and tyrannical fellow-citizens. Is the spirit of so great
a people so mean, that aid against your adversaries always satisfies
you? And are you not to know any contest against the patricians, except
how you may suffer them to domineer over you? Nor is this implanted in
you by nature; but you are theirs by possession. For why is it you bear
such spirit with respect to foreigners, as to think it meet that you
should rule over them? because you have been accustomed to vie with them
for empire, against these to essay liberty rather than to maintain it.
Nevertheless, whatsoever sort of leaders you have, whatever has been
your own conduct, ye have up to this carried every thing which ye have
demanded, either by force, or your own good fortune. It is now time to
aim at still higher objects. Only make trial both of your own good
fortune, and of me, who have been, as I hope, already tried to your
advantage. Ye will with less difficulty set up some one to rule the
patricians, than ye have set up persons to resist their rule.
Dictatorships and consulships must be