Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learn'd,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians 100
If they be senators; and they are no less,
When, both your voices blended, the great'st taste
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate,
And such a one as he, who puts his 'shall,' 104
His popular 'shall,' against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece. By Jove himself!
It makes the consuls base; and my soul aches
To know, when two authorities are up, 108
Neither supreme, how soon confusion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take
The one by th' other.
Com. Well, on to the market-place.
Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth 112
The corn o' the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd
Sometime in Greece,—
Men. Well, well; no more of that.
Cor. Though there the people had more absolute power,
I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed 116
The ruin of the state.
Bru. Why, shall the people give
One that speaks thus their voice?
Cor. I'll give my reasons,
More worthier than their voices. They know the corn
Was not our recompense, resting well assur'd 120
They ne'er did service for 't. Being press'd to the war,
97 vail . . . ignorance: let your folly submit
97, 98 awake . . . lenity: arouse yourselves from your dangerous mildness
100 cushions: i.e. seats in the Senate
102 great'st taste: predominant taste
103 palates: smacks of
108 up: established
110 gap of both: cleavage between the two
110, 111 take . . . other: use the one to overthrow the other
120 our recompense: fair payment from us
121 press'd: enlisted
