Give us but a prince capable of governing, and you shall see whether we will haggle about the conditions of power! Be he who he may, and come he whence he may, he shall be absolutely free to do what he chooses, so long as there is anything to be done.

All we ask is, that when his task is accomplished, he shall let us share the power with him.

Rest assured that even then we shall give him good measure.

The Italians are accommodating, and are not ungrateful.

But ask us not to support this everlasting, do-nothing, tormenting, ruinous dictatorship, which a succession of decrepit old men transmit from one to another.