. The like was done for every
clause, till the ballot was finished, and the tribunes assembling, had
signed the points, that is to say, the number of every suffrage, as it
was taken by the secretary upon the tale of the tribunes, and in the
sight of the proposers; for this may not be omitted: it is the pulse
of the people. Now whereas it appertains to the tribunes to report the
suffrage of the people to the Senate, they cast the lot for this office
with three silver balls and one gold one; and it fell upon the Right
Worshipful Argus de Crookhorn, in the tribe of Pascua, first tribune of
the foot. Argus, being a good sufficient man in his own country, was
yet of the mind that he should make but a bad spokesman, and therefore
became something blank at his luck, till his colleagues persuaded him
that it was no such great matter, if he could but read, having his paper
before him. The proposers, taking coach, received a volley upon the
field, and returned in the same order, save that, being accompanied with
the tribunes, they were also attended by the whole prerogative to the
piazza of the Pantheon, where, with another volley, they took their
leaves. Argus, who had not thought upon his wife and children all the
way, went very gravely up: and everyone being seated, the Senate by
their silence seemed to call for the report, which Argus, standing up,
delivered in this wise:

"RIGHT HONORABLE LORDS AND FATHERS ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT:

"So it is, that it has fallen to my lot to report to your excellencies
in the votes of the people, taken upon the 3d instant, in the first year
of this commonwealth, at the halo; the Right Honorable Phosphorus de
Auge in the tribe of Eudia, Dolabella d'Enyo in the tribe of Turmae,
and Linceus de Stella in the tribe of Nubia, lords commissioners of the
great seal of Oceana, and proposers pro temporibus, together with my
brethren the tribunes, and myself being present. Wherefore these are to
certify to your fatherhoods, that the said votes of the people were as
follows, that is to say:

To the first proposition, nemine contradicente;

To the second, nemine contradicente;

To the third, the like;

To the fourth, 211, above half;

To the fifth, 201, above half;

To the sixth, 150, above half, in the affirmative;

To the seventh, nemine contradicente again, and so forth.

"My Lords, it is a language that is out of my prayers, and if I be out
at it, no harm--

"But as concerning my Lord Ar