[17]
On my
honour, if my slaves feared me as all your fellow-citizens fear you, I should think I must
leave my house. Do not you think you should leave the city? If I saw that I was even
undeservedly so suspected and bated by my fellow-citizens, I would rather flee from their
sight than be gazed at by the hostile eyes of every one. And do you, who, from the
consciousness of your wickedness, know that the hatred of all men is just and has been long
due to you, hesitate to avoid the sight and presence of those men whose minds and senses you
offend? If your parents feared and hated you, and if you could by no means pacify them, you
would, I think, depart somewhere out of their sight. Now, your country, which is the common
parent of all of us, hates and fears you, and has no other opinion of you, than that you are
meditating parricide in her case; and will you neither feel awe of her authority, nor
deference for her judgment, nor fear of her power?
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