Bru. Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,
They have chose a consul that will from them take[3083]
Their liberties, make them of no more voice
Than dogs that are as often beat for barking
As therefore kept to do so.[3084]
Sic. Let them assemble;[3085] 210
And, on a safer judgement, all revoke[3085][3086]
Your ignorant election: enforce his pride[3085][3086]
And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not[3086][3087]
With what contempt he wore the humble weed,
How in his suit he scorn'd you: but your loves, 215
Thinking upon his services, took from you
The apprehension of his present portance,
Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion[3088]
After the inveterate hate he bears you.[3089]
Bru. Lay[3090][3091][3092]
A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd,[3090] 220
No impediment between, but that you must[3090]
Cast your election on him.[3090]
Sic. Say, you chose him[3090]
More after our commandment than as guided[3090][3092]
By your own true affections; and that your minds,[3090][3092]
Pre-occupied with what you rather must do[3090] 225
Than what you should, made you against the grain[3090][3092][3093]
To voice him consul: lay the fault on us.[3090]
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, 230
The noble house o' the Marcians, from whence came[3094]
That Ancus Marcius, 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;[3095] 235
And [Censorinus] nobly named so,[3095]
Twice being [by the people chosen] censor,[3095]
Was his great ancestor.[3095]
Sic. One thus descended,
That hath beside well in his person wrought[3096]
To be set high in place, we did commend 240
To your remembrances: but you have found,
Scaling his present bearing with his past,[3097]
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
Your sudden approbation.
Bru. Say, you ne'er had done't—[3098]
Harp on that still—but by our putting on: 245
And presently, when you have drawn your number,
Repair to the Capitol.
Citizens. We will so: almost all[3099][3100]
Repent in their election. [Exeunt Citizens.[3099]
Bru. Let them go on;[3101]
This mutiny were better put in hazard,
Than stay, past doubt, for greater: 250
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:[3102]
We will be there before the stream o' the people;
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, 255
Which we have goaded onward. [Exeunt.