Now, Porsenna, it is up to you to judge if I was indeed right in persuading these ladies to trust in your kindness. Even if I had nothing to gain personally, I would counsel this course of action. You gain glory not only from having been an enemy of the Romans and now their ally, but this could be further enhanced if you dare to match their fairness. True victory comes from triumphing over them in this respect; this kind of strife has a unique privilege, where both the vanquished and the victors always gain much dignity. The mere desire to prevail in this rivalry is more advantageous than victory in battle. So Porsenna, dare to start this noble contest, place absolute trust in the word of the Romans, and send us back to our kin. They have been faithful in their word in such a way as to leave no room for doubt. But this does not prevent you from performing a noble act by granting us our freedom. To grant freedom to Roman women, women who have scorned death to avoid shame, is to bestow upon them more than kingdoms, more than empires, and even more than life itself. This chapter in history will be so beneficial to you that nothing else will outshine it during your reign. You will win the hearts of all kings, you will have fewer hostages in your care, but greater influence in Rome. Here, we pray only for our homeland, yet in Rome, we will make daily offerings for your glory. You will become our protector, and even though we were never enslaved, we will hold you in the same regard as if you had broken our chains and liberated us from slavery. 

Do not deny, Porsenna, this glorious title of liberator, for we are ready to readily bestow it on you. You might perhaps say that our flight has offended you, as we fled out of fear, deeming you a cruel, barbaric and tyrannical prince. But remember, Porsenna, that a woman's conduct must be guarded and cautious. They must view almost everyone as a potential enemy, and since they are denied arms, fear becomes their prudence. It is better for them to flee and die a little too soon than to wait and live a little too long. We held a poor opinion of you simply because we knew you only as the protector of tyranny. Now, I declare I still do not know you. So speak, Porsenna, that I may know you. Remember you are in the sight of Rome, that all Romans are watching, that you are addressing ladies who will always know how to live or die gloriously, that your renown waits on our actions to announce it to the world, and the deities who are observing you, have crowns ready to set upon your head if you manage to overcome your resentment and conquer the steadfastness of our fathers and ours by placing your trust in us and granting us our freedom.

134