[6,82] Ὀλίγα δὲ τούτοις ἔτι προσθέντος τοῦ Λαρκίου καὶ τῆς ἐπαναστάσεως αὐτῶν καὶ τῆς προπετείας τῶν βουλευμάτων καθαψαμένου παραλαβὼν τὸν λόγον ὁ τοῦ δήμου προεστηκὼς τότε Σικίννιος ἔτι μᾶλλον ἐτράχυνε τὰς ὀργὰς αὐτῶν λέγων, ὡς ἐκ τούτων ἂν δύναιντο μάλιστα τῶν λόγων καταμαθεῖν, οἷαι τιμαὶ καὶ χάριτες αὐτοὺς ὑποδέξονται κατελθόντας εἰς τὴν πατρίδα. οἷς γὰρ ἐν ἀκμῇ τῶν δεινῶν οὖσι καὶ δεομένοις τῆς παρὰ τοῦ δήμου βοηθείας καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦθ´ ἥκουσιν οὐδὲ νῦν ἐπέρχεται μετρίους καὶ φιλανθρώπους ποιεῖσθαι λόγους, τίνα χρὴ δοκεῖν παραστήσεσθαι διάνοιαν, ὅταν αὐτοῖς κατ´ ἐλπίδα χωρήσῃ τὰ πράγματα, καὶ γένηται τὰ νῦν ὑβριζόμενα τοῖς λόγοις ὑποχείρια τοῖς ἔργοις; ποίας ὑπερηφανίας αὐτοὺς ἀφέξεσθαι, ποίας αἰκίας, ποίας ὠμότητος τυραννικῆς; ἀλλ´ εἰ μὲν ὑμῖν ἀπόχρη δουλεύειν ἅπαντα τὸν τοῦ βίου χρόνον δεδεμένοις καὶ μαστιγουμένοις καὶ πυρὶ καὶ σιδήρῳ καὶ λιμῷ καὶ πάσῃ λώβῃ ἀπολλυμένοις, μὴ τρίβετε τὸν χρόνον, ἀλλὰ τὰ ὅπλα ῥίψαντές τε καὶ τὼ χεῖρε περιαγαγόντες ἀκολουθεῖτε αὐτοῖς· εἰ δὲ τῆς ἐλευθερίας ἔνεστιν ὑμῖν τις πόθος, μὴ ἀνέχεσθε αὐτῶν. ὑμεῖς τ´, ὦ πρέσβεις, ἢ λέγετε, ἐφ´ οἷς καλεῖτε ἡμᾶς δικαίοις, ἢ μὴ λέγοντες ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἄπιτε· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἔτι μεταδοίημεν ὑμῖν λόγου.

[6,82] After Larcius had added a few more remarks to those I have reported and had reproached the people for their uprising and the precipitancy of their resolutions, Sicinius, who was then at the head of the populace, replied and inflamed their passions still p99more, saying that from these words of Larcius in particular they might learn what honours and gratitude would await them when they returned to their country. "For if to those who are in the direst straits, who are imploring the assistance of the people, come hither for that purpose, it does not occur even now to speak words of moderation and humanity, what sentiments must we expect them to entertain when things have succeeded according to their wishes, and when those who are now insulted by their words become subject to their deeds? From what arrogance, from what abusive treatment, from what tyrannical cruelty will they refrain? But if you are contented to be slaves all your lives, to be bound, scourged, and destroyed by fire, sword, famine, and every other abuse, don't waste any time, but throw down your arms, offer your hands to be bound behind you, and follow them. But if you have any craving for liberty, do not bear with them. And as for you, envoys, either state the terms upon which you summon us or, if you will not do so, withdraw from the assembly. For after this we shall not give you leave to speak."