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The same. The Forum.
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The Forum.
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Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS
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SICINIUS and BRUTUS enter.
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BRUTUS In this point charge him home, that he affects
Tyrannical power: if he evade us there,
Enforce him with his envy to the people,
And that the spoil got on the Antiates
5Was ne’er distributed.
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BRUTUS Drive this point home: his aim is to be a tyrant. If he dodges this accusation, confront him with his ill-will toward the people, and that the spoils won from the Antiates were never distributed.
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Enter an Aedile
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An aedile enters.
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What, will he come?
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Is he coming?
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AEDILE He’s coming.
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AEDILE He’s coming.
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BRUTUS How accompanied?
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BRUTUS Who’s he with?
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AEDILE With old Menenius, and those senators
10That always favour’d him.
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AEDILE With old Menenius and those senators that have always favored him.
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SICINIUS Have you a catalogue
Of all the voices that we have procured
Set down by the poll?
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SICINIUS Do you have a list of all the individual votes taken in our poll?
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AEDILE I have; ’tis ready.
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AEDILE I do. It’s ready.
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SICINIUS
15Have you collected them by tribes?
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SICINIUS Have you counted them by district?
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AEDILE I have.
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AEDILE I have.
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SICINIUS Assemble presently the people hither;
And when they bear me say ‘It shall be so
I’ the right and strength o’ the commons,’ be it either
20For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them
If I say fine, cry ‘Fine;’ if death, cry ‘Death.’
Insisting on the old prerogative
And power i’ the truth o’ the cause.
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SICINIUS Bring the people here now, and when I say, “The decision of the people is,” whether it’s death, fine, or banishment, if I say, “fine,” have them cry, “Fine,” if “death,” cry, “Death.” They must insist on their legal right to decide this and the power that comes from the truth of their cause.
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