My mother and sister live what's left of their lives. I knew him, well, before the cruelty of Rome spread in his blood. Rome destroyed Messala as surely as Rome has destroyed my family. Where there is greatness, great government or power, even great feeling or compassion, error also is great. We've progressed and matured by fault.
Perfect freedom has no existence.
The grown man knows the world he lives in, and for the present, the world is Rome. I become the hand of Caesar, ready to crush all those who challenge his authority. There are too many small men of envy and ambition who try to disrupt the government of Rome. You have become the victor and hero for these people. They look to you, their one true god as I called you.