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,
Touching the weal of 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?—

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,1
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 dissensious

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,

1 Rascal and in blood, are terms of the forest, both here used equivocally. The meaning seems to be, "Thou worthless scoundrel, though thou art in the worst plight for running of all this herd of plebeians, like a deer not in blood, thou takest the lead in this tumult in order to obtain some private advantage to thyself." "Worst in blood" has a secondary meaning of lowest in condition. The modern editions have, erroneously, a comma at blood, which obscures the sense.

2 Bale is evil or mischief, harm or injury.

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 favors, 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 matter,
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 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?

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,2

And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry3
With thousands of these quartered slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.

4

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.

VOL. V.

58

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?
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 unroofed the city,
Ere so prevailed with me; it will in time

Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes
For insurrections arguing.3

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. 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.
I sin in envying his nobility;

And were I any thing 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 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.

1 Sen. Your company to the Our greatest friends attend us.

O, true bred!

capitol; where, I know,

Lead you on:

Tit.
Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you priority.2

Com.

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

Mar.

Noble Lartius! 3

[To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow:

The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither,

To gnaw their garners.-Worshipful mutineers,

4

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?
Bru. He has no equal.

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 grown Too proud to be so valiant."

Such a nature,

Sic.
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 attained, 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' 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.