Page 2839 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

SICINIUS

Let them assemble,
And on a safer judgement all revoke
Your ignorant election. Enforce his pride

And his old hate unto you. Besides, forget not
With what contempt he wore the humble weed, [220]
How in his suit he scorned you; but your loves,
Thinking upon his services, took from you
Th’apprehension of his present portance,

Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion
After the inveterate hate he bears you.

BRUTUS
Lay [225]
A fault on us, your Tribunes, that we laboured,

No impediment between, but that you must
Cast your election on him.

SICINIUS
Say you chose him
More after our commandment than as guided
By your own true affections, and that your minds, [230]

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.

BRUTUS
Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you,

How youngly he began to serve his country, [235]
How long continued, and what stock be springs of −
The noble house o’th’Martians, 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, [240]
That our best water brought by conduits hither;
And Censorinus, nobly namèd so,

Twice being by the people chosen censor,
Was his great ancestor.