"I want all of you to hear what I am about to say and to be witnesses to it." Everybody, senators, knights and commoners crowded as close to the throne as etiquette and the ushers would allow.
"Now listen to me," spoke Commodus.

"You know I hate all sorts of official business and should greatly prefer to put my entire time and energies on athletics, horsemanship and swordsmanship, archery and other things really worth while.

I make no secret of my love for the activities at which I am best and of my detestation of my duties.
"But, just because I hate my duties, it does not follow that I neglect them.

A lot of you think I do.

I'll show you you are not always right, nor often right.