Conscript fathers, it amazes me how the barbarians and oriental ways can corrupt even the most civilized of peoples. Look at Illium. The Trojans, rebel malcontents from the Roman fold, look how they turn on each other as a pack of wolves devouring their young. Look at Egypt. The descendants of Ptolomy, one of Alexander’s great men, turn themselves into despots and dare to think themselves gods. It is most true; Casca speaks wisely that it may be best to let the Trojan hounds turn on themselves. At this juncture, however, we have another growing problem.

The great general, Commodus Atrebas, wages a new war against a Greek ruling class of an oriental hoard. They dare think that they have some divine right that supersedes the inheritance of Rome! Who are these little men that they should presume so much?

Commodus has Roman cavalry at his disposal, yet his foot troops are all Egyptian. The city is falling in revolt. The loyalty of any non-Roman has to come into question. If the people in Alexandria can be brought to anarchy, so to can the men that we arm to suppress them. They are foreign brothers. The Egyptian forces are very well likely to fall prey to the sympathies of their countryman’s revelry. Furthermore, if we elect to take from them the pride of the Alexandrian Library, this will become even more likely to transpire.

I ask you this day, conscript fathers, to send a legion of true Roman blood, loyal to the Senate and people of Rome, to fortify Egypt. Furthermore, I ask that this measure be put to vote with all haste! I need not remind you of bounty that the Nile yields. We face a revolt that threatens not just our holdings, but the grain supplies that feed more than just a province. It feeds Rome and her legions. With the prospect of war in Asia on the horizon, it is with twice the care that we must see to it that the ports of Alexandria and her precious grain supply are defended.