I did so when I saw that that place gave me no other right than that of accusing citizens for civil offences, and would deprive me of the right of accusing political enemies.

And it is for this that the people love me; and yet you desire that I sentence myself to ostracism, in order to withdraw myself from its confidence.

Exile! how can you dare to propose it to me?
Whither would you have me retire?
Amongst what people should I be received?
Who is the tyrant who would give me asylum ?--Ah! we may abandon a happy, free, and triumphant country; but a country threatened, rent by convulsions, oppressed; we do not flee from that, we save, or perish with it! Heaven, which gave me a soul impassioned for liberty, and gave me birth in a land trampled on by tyrants--Heaven, which placed my life in the midst of the reign of factions and crimes, perhaps calls me to trace with my blood the road to happiness, and the liberty of my fellow men! Do you require from me any other sacrifice?
If you would have my good name, I surrender it to you; I only wish for reputation in order to do good to my fellow-creatures.

If to preserve it, it be necessary to betray by a cowardly silence the cause of the truth and of the people, take it, sully it,--I will no longer defend it.

Now that I have defended myself, I may attack you.