He has it now, and by his looks, methinks,
'Tis warm at's heart.

Bru.
With a proud heart he wore
His humble Weeds. Will you dismiss the people? Enter Plebeians.

Sic.
How now, my masters, have you chose this man?

1 Cit.
He has our voices, Sir.

Bru.
We pray the Gods, he may deserve your loves!

2 Cit.
Amen, Sir. To my poor unworthy notice,
He mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices.

3 Cit.
Certainly he flouted us down-right.

1 Cit.
No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us.

2 Cit.
Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says,
He us'd us scornfully. He should have shew'd us
His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for's Country.

Sic.
Why, so he did, I am sure.

All.
No, no man saw 'em.

3 Cit.
He said, he'd wounds, which he could shew in private;
And with his cap, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be Consul, says he, ^{2 note}aged Custom,
But by your voices, will not so permit me;
Your voices therefore. When we granted that,
Here was—I thank you for your voices—thank you—

Your most sweet voices—now you have left your voices,
I have nothing further with you. Wa'n't this mockery?

Sic.
Why, either, were you ^{3 note}

Bru.
Could you not have told him,
As you were lesson'd; when he had no Power,
But was a petty servant to the State,
He was your enemy; still spake against
Your liberties, and charters that you bear
I'th' body of the weal; and now arriving
At place of potency, and sway o'th' State,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to the Plebeians, your voices might
Be curses to yourselves. You should have said,
That as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he stood for; so his gracious Nature
Would think upon you for your voices, and
Translate his malice tow'rds you into love,
Standing your friendly lord.

Sic.
Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit,
And try'd his inclination; from him pluckt
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had call'd you up, have held him to;
Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature;
Which easily endures not article
Tying him to aught; so putting him to rage,
You should have ta'n th' advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.

Bru.
Did you perceive,

He did sollicit you in ^{4 note}free contempt,
When he did need your loves, and do you think,
That his contempt shall not be bruising to you,
When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies
No heart among you? or had you tongues, to cry
Against the rectorship of judgment?

Sic.
Have you,
Ere now, deny'd the asker? and, now again
On him that did not ask, but mock, bestow
Your su'd-for tongues?

3 Cit.
He's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet.

2 Cit.
And will deny him:
I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.

1 Cit.
I, twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru.
Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,
They've chose a Consul that will from them take
Their Liberties; make them of no more voice
Than dogs that are as often beat for barking,
As therefore kept to do so.

Sic.
Let them assemble,
And on a safer Judgment all revoke
Your ignorant election. ^{5 note}Enforce his Pride,
And his old hate to you; besides, forget not,
With what contempt he wore the humble Weed;
How in his suit he scorn'd you; but your loves,
Thinking upon his services, took from you
The apprehension of his present portance
Which gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion
After th' inveterate hate he bears to you.

Bru.
Nay, lay a fault on us, your Tribunes, that
We labour'd, no impediment between,
But that you must cast your election on him.

Sic.
Say, you chose him, more after our commandment,
Than guided by your own affections;
And that your minds, pre-occupied with what
You rather must do, than what you should do,
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 of Marcius; from whence came
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;
^{6 note}And Censorinus, darling of the people,
And nobly nam'd so for twice being Censor,
^{7 note}

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,
* ^noteScaling his present Bearing with his past,
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
Your sudden approbation.

Bru.
Say, you ne'er had don't,
(Harp on that still) but by our putting on;
And presently, when you have drawn your number,
Repair to th' Capitol.

All.
We will so. Almost all
Repent in their election. [Exeunt Plebeians.

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† ^note
observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.

Sic.
To th' Capitol, come;
We will be there before the stream o' th' people,
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward. [Exeunt.

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