§6.72.1παυσαμένου δὲ τοῦ Οὐαλερίου παρελθὼν ὁ Σικίννιος οὐκ ἐξ ἑνὸς ἔφη δεῖν λόγου τὸ συμφέρον ἐξετάζειν τοὺς εὖ βουλευομένους, ἀλλʼ ὑποτίθεσθαι τὸν ἐναντίον αὑτοῖς λόγον, ἄλλως τε καὶ περὶ τηλικούτων πραγμάτων σκοποῦντας· ἠξίου τε λέγειν πρὸς ταῦτα τοὺς βουλομένους ἅπασαν αἰδῶ καὶ εὐλάβειαν ἀποθεμένους· οὐ γὰρ ἐπιτρέπειν τὰ πράγματα σφίσιν εἰς τὰς τοιαύτας ἀνάγκας κατακεκλεισμένοις οὔτʼ ὄκνῳ οὔτʼ §6.72.2αἰσχύνῃ εἴκειν.
When Valerius had finished speaking, Sicinius stepped forward and said that those who deliberate well ought not to examine what is advantageous from a single argument alone, but to suppose the argument opposite to themselves, especially when they are considering matters of such great importance; and he deemed it right that those who wished to speak should lay aside all shame and caution and speak in reply to these proposals; for their circumstances did not permit them, shut up as they were in such necessities, to yield either to hesitation or to shame.
σιωπῆς δὲ γενομένης ἐπειδὴ πάντες εἰς ἀλλήλους ἀπέβλεπον ἐπιζητοῦντες τὸν ὑπὲρ τοῦ κοινοῦ λέξοντα, ἐφαίνετο δʼ οὐδείς· ὁ γὰρ Σικίννιος τοῖς αὐτοῖς πολλάκις ἐχρῆτο λόγοις· παρέρχεται κατὰ τὰς ὑποσχέσεις Λεύκιος Ἰούνιος ἐκεῖνος ὁ βουλόμενος ἐπικαλεῖσθαι Βροῦτος καὶ τυχὼν ἐπισημασίας παρὰ τοῦ §6.72.3πλήθους ἀθρόας τοιαύτην διέθετο δημηγορίαν· τὸ δέος ὑμᾶς, ὦ δημόται, τὸ τῶν πατρικίων ἐντετηκὸς ἔτι ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἐκπλήσσειν ἔοικε, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τεταπεινωμένοι φέρειν τοὺς λόγους εἰς μέσον, οἷς εἰώθατε χρῆσθαι πρὸς ἀλλήλους, ὀκνεῖτε.
When silence ensued and everyone looked at one another, seeking someone to speak on behalf of the common good, but no one appeared—for Sicinius repeatedly made use of the same words—that Lucius Junius who wished to be called Brutus stepped forward according to his promises, and having received a collective applause from the crowd, delivered the following speech: "The fear of the patricians, citizens, which is still melted into your souls, seems to terrify you, and because of this you are humbled and hesitate to bring into the open the words you are accustomed to use with one another.
οἴεται δʼ ἴσως ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τὸν πλησίον ὑπὲρ τοῦ κοινοῦ λέξειν, καὶ πάντας μᾶλλον, εἴ τι κινδύνευμά ἐστιν, ὑπομενεῖν, αὐτὸς δʼ ἐν τῷ ἀσφαλεῖ βεβηκώς, ὅ τι ἂν ἐκ τοῦ τολμηροῦ χρηστὸν περιγένηται, τούτου τὸ μέρος ἕξειν ἀδεῶς· κακῶς εἰδώς.
Each of you perhaps thinks that his neighbor will speak on behalf of the common good, and that everyone else will endure whatever danger there may be, while he himself, standing in safety, will fearlessly have his share of whatever good may result from the bold action; knowing this badly.
εἰ γὰρ ἅπαντες τοῦτο ὑπολάβοιμεν, ἡ καθʼ ἕνα ὑμῶν ἕκαστον ἀτολμία κοινὴ πᾶσιν ἔσται βλάβη, καὶ ἐν ᾧ τὸ ἴδιόν τις ἀσφαλὲς ἀποσκοπεῖ §6.72.4τὸ μετὰ πάντων κοινὸν ἀπολεῖ.
For if we should all suppose this, the lack of courage of each one of you will be a common harm to all, and while someone aims at his own individual safety, he will destroy what is common to all.
ἀλλʼ εἰ καὶ μὴ πρότερον ἔγνωτε, ὅτι λέλυται τὸ δέος ὑμῶν καὶ τὸ ἐλεύθερον ἅμα τοῖς ὅπλοις βεβαίως ἔχετε, νῦν γʼ ἤδη μάθετε διδασκάλοις χρησάμενοι τούτοις.
But even if you did not know before that your fear has been dissolved and that you hold your freedom securely along with your arms, learn it at least now, using these men as teachers.
οἱ γὰρ ὑπερήφανοι καὶ βαρεῖς οὐκ ἐπιτάττοντες ὑμῖν ὡς πρότερον ἥκουσιν οὐδʼ ἀπειλοῦντες, ἀλλὰ δεόμενοι καὶ παρακαλοῦντες, ἐπὶ τὰ ὑμέτερα ὑμᾶς κατιέναι, καὶ ὡς ἐλευθέροις ἐξ ἴσου ἤδη ἄρχονται ὁμιλεῖν.
For those proud and oppressive men have come not commanding you as before, nor threatening, but begging and exhorting you to return to your own homes, and they are already beginning to associate with you as with free men on equal terms.
τί οὖν ἔτι καταπέπληχθε αὐτοὺς καὶ σιωπᾶτε, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐλεύθερα φρονεῖτε καὶ διαρρήξαντες ἤδη ποτὲ τοὺς χαλινοὺς λέγετε εἰς τὸ κοινόν, ἃ πεπόνθατε πρὸς αὐτῶν;
Why then do you still stand terrified of them and keep silent, instead of thinking like free men and, having at last broken your bridles, speaking to the public about what you have suffered at their hands?
ὦ σχέτλιοι, §6.72.5τί δεδοίκατε;
O wretched men, what do you fear?
μή τι πάθητε ἡγεμόνι τῆς ἐλευθεροστομίας ἐμοὶ χρώμενοι;
Are you afraid that you might suffer something by employing me as the leader of your free speech?
κινδυνεύσω γὰρ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν εἰπεῖν τὰ δίκαια μετὰ παρρησίας ἐγὼ πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ οὐδὲν ἀποκρύψομαι.
For I will run the risk of speaking what is just with boldness to them on your behalf, and I will conceal nothing.
καὶ ἐπειδὴ Οὐαλέριος οὐδὲν ἔφησεν εἶναι τὸ κωλῦον ἀναστρέφειν ὑμᾶς ἐπὶ τὰ οἰκεῖα τῆς βουλῆς διδούσης τὴν κάθοδον καὶ προσεψηφισμένης τὸ μὴ μνησικακεῖν, ταῦτʼ ἀποκρινοῦμαι πρὸς αὐτόν, ἅπερ ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ καὶ ἀναγκαῖα εἰρῆσθαι.
And since Valerius said that there is nothing to prevent you from returning to your own homes, since the senate is granting your return and has further voted not to bear malice, I will answer him with these very things which are true and necessary to be said."