That's why I share my pain with the stones - although they remain silent in my despair, they are better than the Tribunes because they do not interrupt me. When I cry, they get soaked with my tears and I think they cry with me. If they were to wear white and formal robes, Rome could not find better Tribunes.

The stone is soft like wax, while the Tribunes are harder than stone. The stone has no tongue and does not hurt, while the Tribunes announce death with their tongue.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]