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Santus Cronus addresses the Senate:
Senators, nobles, citizens of Rome.
Non sumus sub rege: sibi quisque se vindicet.
Like all of you, I am justly proud of our newly established Republic. I am optimistic about our future. May our glory never wane!
It is my sad duty, however, to inform you that I have discovered an evil conspiracy amongst us, a conspiracy whose goal is to restore the Tarquins. These conspirators know that us proud, noble Romans would never allow such a thing to happen peacefully. It is my belief, therefore, that what they have planned is nothing less than a massacre of the Senate. It must be their belief that if they slaughter enough of us, the survivors will be too grateful at having been spared to protest at all.
We must not let this happen. We must not allow them to sow fear and distrust in our ranks.
Before I retire, I will give you the names of the conspirators that I have uncovered. First, ...
At that moment, Santus Cronus keels over, dead - he has been poisoned!
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