What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.
The senators, with one consent of love,
Entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought
On special dignities, which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing.

2 Sen.
They confess,
Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross:
Which now the publick body,-which doth
Play the recanter,-feeling in itself [seldom
A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal
Of its own fall, restraining aid to Timon:
And sentforth us, to make their sorrow'd render,1
Together with a recompense more fruitful
Than their offence can weigh down by the dram2;
Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth,
Asshall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs,
And write in thee the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.

Tim.

You witch me in it; Surprise me to the very brink of tears: Lend me a fool's heart, and a woman's eyes, And I'll beweep these comforts, worthy senators. 1.S. Therefore, so please thee to return with us, And of our Athens (thine, and ours,) to take The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks, Allow'd with absolute power, and thy good name Live with authority:-so soon we shall drive Of Alcibiades the approaches wild; [back Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up His country's peace.

2 Sen. And shakes his threat'ning sword Against the walls of Athens.

1 Sen. Therefore, Timon,T.Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir; Thus,If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, Let Alcibiades know this of Timon, [Athens, That-Timon cares not. But if he sack fair And take our goodly aged men by the beards, Giving our holy virgins to the stain

Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war; Then, let him know,-and tell him, Timon In pity of our aged, and our youth, [speaks it, I cannot choose but tell him, that-I care not, And let him take't at worst; for their knives care not

[you

While you have throats to answer: for myself,
There's not a whittle in the unruly camp,
But I do prize it at my love, before
The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave
To the protection of the prosperous 5 gods,
As thieves to keepers.

Flav.
Stay not, all's in vain.
Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph,
It will be seen to-morrow; My long sickness
Of health, and living, now begins to mend,
Aul nothing brings me all things. Go, live still;
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough!

We speak in vain.

1 Sen. Tim. But yet I love my country; and am not One that rejoices in the common wreck, As common bruit doth put it.

That's well spoke.

1 Sen. Tim. Commend me to my loving countrymen,1 Sen. These words become your lips as they pass through them.

2S. And enter in our ears like great triumphers In their applauding gates.

Tim. Commend me to them; And tell them, that to ease them of their griefs, Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses, Their pangs of love, with other incident throes That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them:

I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.

2 Sen. I like this well, he will return again. T. I have a tree, which grows here in my close, That mine own use invites me to cut down, And shortly must I fell it: Tell my friends, Tell Athens in the sequence of degree, From high to low throughout, that whoso please To stop affliction, let him take his haste, Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe, And hang himself:-I pray you, do my greeting. Fl. Trouble him no further, thus you still shall find him.

Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Athens, Timon hath made his everlasting mansion Upon the beached verge of the salt flood; Which once a day with his embossed froth The turbulent surge shall cover; thither come, And let my grave-stone be your oracle.Lips, let sour words go by, and language end: What is amiss, plague and infection mend! Graves only be men's works; and death, their gain!

Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his reign. [Exit Timon. 1 Sen. His discontents are unremoveably Coupled to nature.

2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us In our dear1 peril. 1 Sen.

It requires swift foot. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-THE WALLS OF ATHENS.
Enter two Senators, and a Messenger.

1 Sen. Thou hast painfully discovered; are his As full as thy report?

Mess.
I have spoke the least:
Besides, his expedition promises
Present approach.

[tiles 2

2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon.

Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend;Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd, Yet our old love made a particular force, And made us speak like friends:-this man was From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, [riding With letters of entreaty, which imported His fellowship i' the cause against your city, In part for his sake mov'd.

Enter Senators from Timon.

1 Sen. Here come our brothers. 2.S. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouring Doth choke the air with dust: in and prepare; Ours is the fall, I fear; our foes, the snare.

scians.

MENENIUS AGRIPPA, Friend to Coriolanus. SICINIUS VELUTUS,Tribunes of the People. JUNIUS BRUTUS,

Young MARCIUS, Son to Coriolanus.

A Roman Herald.

TULLUS AUFIDIUS, General of the Volscians. Lieutenant to Aufidius.

Conspirators with Aufidius.

away, away.

2 Cit. One word, good citizens.

1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians, good1: What authority surfeits on, would relieve us; If they would yield us but the superfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess, they relieved us humanely! but they think, we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them.-Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes2: for the gods know, I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

Cit. Against him first; he's a very dog to the commonalty.

2 Cit. Consider you what services he has done for his country?

1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud.

2 Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously. 1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though soft con2 (Thin as rakes.)

1 Rich.

scienc'd men can be content to say it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: You must in no way say, he is covetous.

1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o' the city is risen: Why stay we prating here? to the Capitol. Cit. Come, come.

1 Cit. Soft; who comes here?

Enter Menenius Agrippa.

2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people.

1 Cit. He's one honest enough; 'Would all the rest were so!

Men. What works, my countrymen, in hand?

Where go you [you. With bats and clubs? The matter speak, I pray 1 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say, poor suitors have strong breaths; they shall know we have strong arms too. Men. Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, Will you undo yourselves?

1 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already. Men. I tell you, friends, most charitable care Have the patricians of you. For your wants, Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well Strike at the heaven with your staves, as lift them Against the Roman state; whose course will on The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs Of more strong link asunder, than can ever Appear in your impediment: For the dearth, The gods, not the patricians, make it; and Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack, You are transported by calamity Thither where more attends you; and you slander

The helms o' the state, who care for you like When you curse them as enemies. [fathers, 1 Cit. Care for us!-True, indeed! They ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their storehouses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers: repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich; and provide more piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us.

Men. Either you must

Confess yourselves wondrous malicious,
Or be accus'd of folly. I shall tell you
A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it;
But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture
To scale't a little more.

1 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not think to fob2 off our disgrace with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver.

Men. There was a time, when all the body's members

Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it:That only like a gulf it did remain

I' the midst o' the body, idle and inactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing
Like labour with the rest; where the other
instruments

Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,
And, mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly answered,-
1 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly?
Men. Sir, I shall tell you.-With a kind of smile,
Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus,
(For, look you, I may make the belly smile,
As well as speak,) it tauntingly replied
To the discontented members,the mutinous parts
That envied his receipt; even so most fitly 5
As you malign our senators, for that
They are not such as you.

Fore me, this fellow speaks?-What then? what then?

1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be reWho is the sink o' the body,- [strain'd, Men. Well, what then? 1 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer?

Men. I will tell you; If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little,) Patience, a while, you'll hear the belly's answer. 1 Cit. You are long about it. Men. Note me this, good friend; Your most grave belly was deliberate, Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd: True is it, my incorporate friends, quoth he, That I receive the general food at first, Which you do live upon: and fit it is;

1 Spread, i.e. make known.

2 Shift off.

3 Injuries.

4 Whereas. 5 Exactly.

6 Supports.

Because I am the storehouse, and the shop
Of the whole body: But if you do remember,
I send it through the rivers of your blood,
Even to the court,the heart,-tothe seat o'the brain;
And, through the cranks1 and offices of man,
The strongest nerves, and small inferior veins,
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live: and though that all at once,
You, my good friends, (this says the belly,)
1 Cit. Ay, sir, well, well. [mark me,-
Though all at once cannot
See what I do deliver out to each;
Yet I can make my audit up, that all
From me do back receive the flour of all,
And leave me but the bran. What say you to't?
1 Cit. It was an answer: How apply you this?
Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members: For examine
Their counsels, and their cares; digest things
rightly,
[find,

Men.

Touching the weal o' the common; you shall
No publick 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.2 Hail, noble Marcius!

Enter Caius Marcius.

Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dis sentious 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
[curs,
Beneath abhorring.-What would you have, you
That like nor peace,norwar? 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
greatness,

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
That in these several places of the city [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
sceking?

Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof The city is well stor❜d. [they say, 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,1
And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry2
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.
[suaded;
Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly per-
For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But I beseech
What says the other troop?
[you,
Mar.
They are dissolv'd: Hang 'em!
They said they were an hungry; sigh'd forth
proverbs ;---
[eat;
That, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must
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, [caps
And make bold power look pale,) they threw their
As they would hang them on the horns o' the
Shouting their emulation.4
[moon,

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 arguing.

Men.

This is strange.
Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!
Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Where's Caius Marcius?
Ματ.

Here, what's the matter? 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 Sena-
tors; 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 Aufidius, that will put you to't.
I sin in envying his nobility:

And were I anything but 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 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
Ere stay behind this business.
[other,
Men.
O, true bred!
1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol: where,
Our greatest friends attend us. [I know,
Tit.
Lead you on:
Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy your priority.
Com.

Noble Lartius! 1 Sen. [To the Citizens.] Hence! To your homes, be gone.

Mar.

Nay, let them follow: The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither,

To gnaw their garners1:-Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.

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

S. V. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. V. When we were chosen tribunes for the people,

Bru. Mark'd you his lip, and eyes?

Sic. V. Nay, but his taunts. Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird 2 Sic. V. Bemock the modest moon. [the gods. Bru. The present wars devour him: he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.

Sic. V.

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 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. V.

Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Of his demerits3 rob Cominius.

Come:

Bru. 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. V.

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.

1 Granaries. 2 Gibo.

Let's along.

[Exeunt.