"You bastard, you're asking for it…" Belem snarled through gritted teeth.
"Did you hear that? What did he just say? 'Bastard'? What does he think you all are, esteemed nobles? Is *this* the equality between Tuscans and Normans that the Marquis talks about?" Cesare gloated.
"Do Tuscans never argue amongst themselves?
Just because the one cursing is a Norman and the one being cursed is a Tuscan—just because they were born in different places—this can be escalated into an issue of inequality?
If a single argument can be escalated into an issue of inequality,
then I say that so-called equality is far too fragile.
Is it verbal equality that you want?
If it is, then I suppose everyone who ever gets into an argument should be thrown in prison.
Let me tell you what equality is.
The equality I speak of is not about whether a Norman or a Tuscan calls the other a bastard.
It is equality before the law!
