"Senators. People of Rome," I say as I unfold the speech I wrote in between preparing my shelf-full of language potions. "As His Swiftness mentioned, I come from beyond the boundaries of this world. I must emphasize that I am not merely a barbarian. I do not come merely from across the borders of Rome. I do not come from the lands of the Mongol-Chin, nor am I from Azmayincania. I am from beyond the world of mortals, perhaps even from beyond Olympus and the realm of the gods."
I expect there to be a bit of a murmur from the crowd and I pause to let it sink in.
"I can try to offer proof of this later, but for now it is perhaps the best to ask your own gods for the truth of my origin."
"I came here by accident, perhaps brought here by Jupiter. Shortly after my arrival, I happened into the Temple of Juno and asked her to tell me my fate. She told me that I bring wisdom and that the scientists of Rome need the knowledge I have or they will make a terrible mistake."
"I proceeded to ask the other gods what they thought my purpose in this world was. This is what they said. Apollo told me what your polite silence is now hiding! He told me that you will not want to hear me, that I am what you believe does not exist!"
I expect I will have to pause again.
"Mars told me that I am ideally suited to work with the new weapon being developed by Rome to fight the barbarians. A weapon that is taking up a lot of time of the empire's scientists!"
"Jupiter, father and leader of the gods, told me again that the people of Rome are making a mistake and I bear the knowledge that you do not have."
"Neptune, god of the seas, urged me to stay in Rome."
"Minerva, goddess of wisdom, advised me not to leap to conclusions, that the war machine is more dangerous and less effective than I imagine."
"Vulcan, artisan of the gods, told me that Rome works with metal that is not metal, fire that is not fire, and cause death that is not death. He told me that I must teach you."
"And finally, Mercury, messenger of the gods, told me that the power that Rome has tapped is not what they believe and that I must tell this to the leaders."
"And so I have. Thank you for your time."
I fold up my speech but I do not descend from the podium. I expect some discussion and unless it is obvious that it is custom that I give up the podium to the next speaker, I will wait for questions.
