Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties:
Martius would have all from you; Martius,
Whom late you have nam'd for consul.
Men. Fie, fie, fie!
This is the way to kindle, not to quench. 196
Sen. To unbuild the city and to lay all flat.
Sic. What is the city but the people?
All. True,
The people are the city.
Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd 200
The people's magistrates.
All. You so remain.
Men. And so are like to do.
Com. That is the way to lay the city flat;
To bring the roof to the foundation, 204
And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges,
In heaps and piles of ruin.
Sic. This deserves death.
Bru. Or let us stand to our authority,
Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce, 208
Upon the part o' the people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy
Of present death.
Sic. Therefore lay hold of him;
Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence 212
Into destruction cast him.
Bru. Ædiles, seize him!
All Ple. Yield, Martius, yield!
Men. Hear me one word;
Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.
Æd. Peace, peace! 216
Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's friends,
205 distinctly ranges: stretches out intact in separate buildings
212 rock Tarpeian; cf. n.
