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, A sick man's appetite, who desires most that ye? Hang ye! Trust With every minute you do change a mind; Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter, 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 stored. 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? 3 Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,2 Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, 1 "Your virtue is to speak well of him whom his own offences have subjected to justice; and to rail at those laws by which he whom you praise was punished." 2 i. e. pity, compassion. 3 Quarry or querre signified slaughtered game, so denominated from being deposited in a square inclosed space in royal hunting. 4 Pick, peck, or picke, i. e. pitch; still in provincial use 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; sighed forth proverbs; 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 answered, 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.2 Men. What is granted them? Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes Men. This is strange. Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments! Enter a Messenger. Here. What's the matter? Mess. Where's Caius Marcius? Mar. Mess. 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. 1 Generosity, in the sense of its Latin original, for nobleness, high birth. 2 Emulation is factious contention. 3 For insurgents to debate upon. 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 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. 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. Follow, Cominius; we must follow you; Right worthy you priority.2 Com. Lead you on: Noble Lartius! 3 [To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow: 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone. Mar. The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners.-Worshipful mutineers, Your valor puts well forth; pray, follow. [Exeunt Senators, Coм., MAR., TIT., and MENEN. Citizens steal away. 1 i. e. immovable in my resolution. 2 Of is understood. 3 The old copy has Marcius. 4 That is, You have in this mutiny shown fair blossoms of valor. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people, Bru. Marked you his lip, and eyes? Sic. Nay, but his taunts. Bru. Being moved, he will not spare to gird' the gods. Sic. Bemock the modest moon. Bru. The present wars devour him; he is Too proud to be so valiant.2 Such a nature, grown Sic. Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,- Sic. Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Of his demerits rob Cominius. 3 Bru. Come. Half all Cominius' honors are to Marcius, Though Marcius earned them not; and all his faults To Marcius shall be honors, though, indeed, In aught he merit not. Sic. Let's hence, and hear How the despatch is made; and in what fashion, 1 A gird is a cut, a sarcasm, or stroke of satire. 2 Perhaps the meaning of the latter member of the sentence is, "He is grown too proud of being so valiant to be endured," or "too proud for one so valiant." It is still a common expression to say, "eat up with pride." 3 Demerits and merits had anciently the same meaning. More than in singularity,' he goes Bru. Let's along. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Corioli. The Senate House. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS and certain Senators. 1 Sen. So your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are entered in our counsels, And know how we proceed. I think Auf. (Who is of Rome worse hated than of you,) Whither 'tis bent. Most likely, 'tis for you; 1 Sen. Our army's in the field; Auf. Nor did you think it folly, To keep your great pretences veiled, till when They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching, 1 "What he is to do beside going himself." 2 The old copy reads: "What have been ever thought on in this state." We must either suppose this an ellipsis for "What things have," &c., or read, with Steevens, hath, as in the text. 3 i. e. ready; from the old French prest. |