Which you do live upon: and fit it is; Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o'the brain; Men. Though all at once cannot And leave me but the bran. What say you to 't? 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, thou 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 Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is, To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him, A sick man's appetite, who desires most that Which would increase his evil. He that depends And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye? What's the matter, That in these several places of the city Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else Would feed on one another ?-What's their seeking? Mar. Hang 'em! They say? They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know Who thrives, and who declines: side factions, and give out Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's grain enough ? And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, Mar. They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said, they were an hungry: sigh'd forth proverbs;— They vented their complainings; which being answer'd, (To break the heart of generosity § And make bold power look pale), they threw their caps 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 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. Pity, compassion. I. e. of the patricians. + Heap of dead. Factious triumph. + Pitch. Topic. 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. Mar. They have a leader, Tullus Anfidius, that will put you to't. And were I anything 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 Only my wars with him: he is a lion That I am proud to hunt. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. 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, 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. [To the CITIZENS Mar. Nay, let them follow: The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners :-Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow. [Exeunt SENATORS, COM. MAR. TIT. and MENEN. Sic. Was ever man so proud as this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal. Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people,—— Sic. Nay, but his taunts. Bru. Being moved, 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 * (Of.) Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,- Sic. Besides, if things go well; Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Bru. Come: Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults 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. Let's along. SCENE II.-Corioli. The Senate-House. [Exeunt. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain SENATORS. 1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels, Auf. Is it not yours? What ever hath been thought on in this state, They have press'd a power, but it is not known (Who is of Rome worse hated than of you), 1 Sen. Our army's in the field: We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready Auf. Nor did you think it folly, To keep your great pretences veil'd, till when [Reads. They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery, We shall be shorten'd in our aim; which was, To take in † many towns, ere, almost, Rome Should know we were afoot. * Demerits and merits had anciently the same meaning. † Pre-occupation. To subdue. 2 Sen. Noble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands: If they set down before us, for the remove Auf. O, doubt not that; I speak from certainties. Nay, more. All. The gods assist you! Auf. And keep your honours safe! 1 Sen. Farewell. 2 Sen. Farewell. All. Farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE III-Rome. An Apartment in MARCIUS' House. Enter VOLUMNIA, and VIRGILIA: They sit down on two low stools, and sew. Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort: If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his way; + when, for a day of kings' entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I,—considering how honour would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir,-was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man. Vir. But had he died in the business, Madam? how then? Vol. Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: Had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius,-I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a GENTLEWOMAN. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. Methinks, I hear hither your husband's drum; As children from a bear the Volces shunning him: * Attracted all attention to him. † Withdraw. |