Sic. Let them assemble,
And on a safer judgment, ALL REVOKE
Your IGNORANT ELECTION.
Bru. Lay
A fault on us, your tribunes; that WE LABOURED
NO IMPEDIMENT BETWEEN, but that you must
Cast your election on him.
Sic. Say, you chose him
More after our commandment, than as guided
By your own true affections, and that your minds,
Pre-occupied with what you rather must do,
Than what you should, made you against the grain
To voice him consul: lay the fault on us.
Bru. Ay, SPARE us NOT. Say WE READ LECTURES TO YOU,
How youngly he began to serve his country,
How long continued, and what stock he springs of;
The noble house o' the Marcians, from whence came,
That Ancus Martius, Numa's daughter's son,
Who, after great Hostilius, here was king:
Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,
That our best water brought by conduits hither;
And Censoriuus, darling of the people,
And nobly named so, being censor twice,
Was his great ancestor.
[Of course this man has never meddled with the classics at all. His reading and writing comes by nature.]
Sic. One thus descended, That hath beside well in his person wrought, To be set high in place, we did commend To your remembrances; but you have found, Scaling his present bearing with his past, That he's your fixed enemy, and REVOKE Your sudden approbation.
Bru.. Say you ne'er had done't,— Harp on that still,—but by our putting on, And presently when you have drawn your number, Repair to the Capitol.
Citizens. [Several speak.] We will so. Almost all
Repent in their election. [Exeunt Citizens.]
Bru. Let them go on.
This mutiny were better put in hazard,
Than stay, past doubt, for greater;
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
With their refusal, both observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.
Sic. To the Capitol:
Come, we'll be there before the stream o' the people,
And this shall seem, as partly'tis, their own
Which WE HAVE GOADED ONWARD.