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 levelled to the ground, that the Roman commons may be able to raise their heads.