No, Collatin, my intention is too pure, and the gods are too just to allow<hr>
all men to be unjust to me. I do not do it out of remorse or despair,<hr>
I do it with reason. I have exposed my motivations to you, so do not resist my will anymore, you could<hr>
not prevent it anyway. Think of vengeance, not my survival, for the former can<hr>
be glorious while the latter would be of no use to you. Moreover, my example will never persuade<hr>
Roman ladies to betray their honor. I must justify the esteem they have always held<hr>
for my wisdom. I sacrifice my life for my own glory, for that of my homeland, for that<hr>
of Spurius Lucretius and for that of Collatin. But do what you must do after<hr>
my death. Spare nothing to avenge me, use iron, fire and poison. All forms of<hr>
violence are just against usurpers. One must combine reason with force when<br>
courage alone is not enough to destroy them. Think of the justice of your cause, remember my purity,<hr>
the love you have always had for me and the one I had for you. Never forget my<hr>
passion for glory and my hatred for wickedness. Consider me unfortunate and<hr>
not guilty. And with all these things, Collatin, you can nurture an irreconcilable hatred<hr>
against the tyrant. But let's not delay further a revenge so upright. Go, Collatin, go,<hr>
end this sad discourse by ending my life. Here is the dagger I hold, with which<hr>
I can punish myself, avenge you and show you how to pierce the heart of the usurper.<hr> <hr>

                                        Effect of this Speech<hr>

The consequence of this speech was the flight of Sextus Tarquin, the exile of his father, the loss<hr>
of his kingdom, and the beginning of the Roman Republic. Lucretia's attacker paid for this affront<hr>
with his life and his crown. No crime was as well punished, no offense as<hr>
well avenged. The death of this unfortunate woman armed an entire people. Her blood achieved<hr>
the expected effect and the name of Tarquin became so hateful to everyone that even among those who had<hr>
participated in driving out the tyrants, the Romans were compelled to change this name because they could<hr>
no longer bear it.<hr> <hr>

                                              Notes<hr>

Lucretia is a Roman woman known for her beauty and the wife of Tarquin Collatin,<hr>
a powerful man and close to King Tarquin. After being raped and threatened by Sextus<hr>
Tarquin, the king's son, the young woman commits suicide. It is in the wake of this tragic<hr>
event that Rome is said to have made the transition from monarchy to republic.<hr>
Tarquin Collatin is a legendary political figure from the early days of the Roman<hr>
Republic.<hr>
Sextus Tarquin is the youngest son of Tarquin the Proud, king of Rome.<hr> <hr>

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