What act or saying of mine, when consul, have ye heard of more severe than when only tribune?
With the same tenor did I administer two successive consulships; with the same shall this uncontrollable office, the dictatorship, be administered.

So that I shall be found not more indulgent to these my own soldiers and the soldiers of my country, than to you, I shudder to call you so, its enemies.

Ye shall therefore draw the sword against me, before I draw it against you.

On that side the signal shall be sounded, on that the shout and onset shall begin, if a battle must take place.

Determine in your minds, on that which neither your fathers nor grandfathers could; neither those who seceded to the Sacred Mount, nor yet those who afterwards posted themselves on the Aventine.