Listen to me, Francesca. You think you a...

Listen to me, Francesca. You think you are being clever, and I grant you, what you say sounds pleasing to the ear of those who only need the smallest excuse to force their will on the people. You say this is permissible, to be cruel, to be feared, because it brings peace. If you make these ideas known, they will become popular among the worst men, and everyone will say this.

I can hear them now, Francesca! In the Courts of the French, the English, and the hated Spaniards. “I must be cruel. I must crush my enemies. I must make the people fear me! For the sake of la patria! Not for my own power, oh no, not for that! Not because I need to crush others to make myself feel worthy, oh, no! I will be feared to bring peace!”

You are Eve in the Garden of Eden, no, the Serpent himself! Leave me!

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