Concerning the punishment only of the decemvirs was their demand immoderate; for they thought it but just that they should be delivered up to them; and they threatened that they would burn them alive.

In answer the ambassadors say, the demands which have been the result of deliberation are so reasonable, that they should be voluntarily offered to you; for you seek them as safeguards to your liberty, not as means of licentious power to assail others.

Your resentment we must rather pardon than indulge; seeing that from your hatred of cruelty ye rush into cruelty, and almost before you are free yourselves, you wish already to lord it over your enemies.

Shall our state never enjoy rest from punishments, either of the patricians on the Roman commons, or of the commons on the patricians?
you have occasion for a shield rather than for a sword.

He is sufficiently and abundantly humble, who lives in a state on an equal footing, neither inflicting nor suffering injury.