Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they say, The city is well stor❜d. Mar. Hang 'em! They say? They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know What's done i'the Capitol: who's like to rise, Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, 4 Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,' Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you, What says the other troop? Mar. They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said, they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth pro verbs; That, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat; That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods sent not Corn for the rich men only:-With these shreds They vented their complainings; which being answer'd, And a petition granted them, a strange one, *—their ruth,] i. e. their pity, compassion. Fairfax and Spenser often use the word. Hence the adjective-ruthless, which is still current. 5 I'd make a quarry-] Mr. Steevens asserts, that quarry means game pursued or killed, and supports that opinion by a passage in Massinger's Guardian: and from thence, perhaps, the word was used to express a heap of slaughtered persons. 6 pick my lance.] i. e. pitch it. (To break the heart of generosity," And make bold power look pale,) they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o'the moon, Shouting their emulation. Men. 8 What is granted them? Mar. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wis doms, Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus, Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes Men. This is strange. Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments! Enter a Messenger. Mess. Where's Caius Marcius? Mar. Here: What's the matter? Mess. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms. vent Our musty superfluity:-See, our best elders. Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VELUTUS. 1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us; 7- the heart of generosity,] To give the final blow to the nobles. Generosity is high birth. Shouting their emulation.] Emulation, in the present instance, perhaps, signifies faction. Shouting their emulation, may mean, expressing the triumph of their faction by shouts. Emulation, in our author, is sometimes used in an unfavourable sense, and not to imply an honest contest for superior excellence. For insurrection's arguing.] For insurgents to debate upon. The Volces are in arms. Mar. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. And were I any thing but what I am, Com. You have fought together. Mar. Were half to half the world by the ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, Sir, it is; Attend upon Cominius to these wars. Mar. And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou Tit. Men. O, true bred! 1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us. Tit. Lead you on: Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; Com. Noble Lartius! 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone. To the Citizens. Mar. Nay, let them follow: The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, 1 Right worthy you priority.] You being right worthy of precedence. To gnaw their garners:-Worshipful mutineers, Exeunt Senators, Coм. MAR. TIT. and Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the peo ple, Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes? Sic. Nay, but his taunts. Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird3 the gods. Sic. Be-mock the modest moon. Bru. The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.* Such a nature, Sic. Under Cominius. Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,In whom already he is well grac'd,—cannot Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by A place below the first: for what miscarries Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he Had borne the business! Sic. Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall 2 Your valour puts well forth:] That is, You have in this mutiny shown fair blossoms of valour. to gird-] To sneer, to gibe. + The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.] He is grown too proud to be so valiant, may signify, his pride is such as not to deserve the accompanyment of so much valour. Of his demerits rob Cominius.5 Bru. Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults To Marcius shall be honours, though, indeed, In aught he merit not. Sic. Let's hence, and hear How the despatch is made; and in what fashion, Upon his present action. Bru. SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate-House. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators. Auf. (Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,) s Of his demerits rob Cominius.] Merits and Demerits had anciently the same meaning. More than in singularity, &c.] After what fashion, beside that in which his own singularity of disposition invests him, he goes into the field. |