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Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members: For examine
Their counsels, and their cares; digest things rightly,
Touching the weal o'the common; you shall find,
No public benefit which you receive,

But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you,
And no way from yourselves.-What do you think?
You the great toe of this assembly?—

1 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe?
Men. For that being one o'the lowest, basest,
poorest,

Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost :
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood, to run
Lead'st first to win some vantage.-

But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs;
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle,

The one side must have bale. Hail, noble Marcius!

Enter Caius Marcius.

Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissentious

rogues,

That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?

1 Cit.

We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will flatter

Beneath abhorring.-What would you have, you

curs,

That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights you,
The other makes you proud. He that trusts you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
Where foxes, geese: You are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,

Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is,

To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him, And curse that justice did it. Who deserves great

ness,

• Bane.

Deserves your hate: and your affections are
A sick man's appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours, swims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust
ye?

With every minute you do change a mind;
And call him noble, that was now your hate,

Him vile, that was your garland. What's the mat ter,

That in these several places of the city

You cry against the noble senate, who,

Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else

Would feed on one another?-What's their seeking? 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,

Who thrives, and who declines: side factions, and give out

Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling such as stand not in their liking,
Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's grain
enough?

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth",

And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry+
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly per. suaded;

For though abundantly they lack discretion,

Yet are they passing cowardly. But I beseech you, What say the other troop?

Mar.

They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said, they were an hungry; sigh'd forth pro

verbs ;

Pity, compassion. + Heap of dead. Pitch.

Act I. 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

(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.

What is granted them? Mar. Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms, Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus, Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'Sdeath! The rabble should have first unroof'd the city; Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time

Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes For insurrection's arguingt.

Men.

This is strange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar.

Here: What's the matter?

Mes. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms.
Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means

to 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;

The Volces are in arms.

Faction.

+ For insurgents to debate upon.

Mar.

They have a leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't..

I sin in envying his nobility:

And were I any thing out what I am,

I would wish me only he.

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

Only my wars with him: he is a lion.

That I am proud to hunt.

1 Sen.

Then, worthy Marcius,

Sir, it is;

Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
Com. It is your former promise.

Mar.

And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face:
What, art thou stiff? stand'st out?

Tit.
No, Caius Marcius;
I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other,
Ere stay behind this business.

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;
Right worthy you priority*.

Com.

Noble Lartius!

1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone.

Mar.

[To the Citizens.

Nay, let them follow:

The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, To gnaw their garnerst:-Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray follow.

[Exeunt Senators, Com. Mar. Tit. and Menen. Citizens steal away.

Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?

* Right worthy of precedence.

Shows itself.

+ Granaries.

Bru. He has no equal.

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 gird the

gods.

Sic. Be-mock the modest moon.

Bru. The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.

Sic.

Such a nature,

Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon: But I do wonder,
His insolence can brook to be commanded

Under Cominius.

Bru.

Fame, at the which he aims,In whom already he is well graced,--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
Of his demerits† rob Cominius.

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,
More than in singularity, he goes

Upon his present action.

Bru.

Sneer.

Let's along. [Exeunt.

+ Demerits and merits had anciently the same meaning.

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