2 Serv. An he had been cannibally given, he might have broiled and eaten him too. 1 Serv. But, more of thy news? 3 Serv. Why, he is so made on here within, as if he were son and heir to Mars; set at upper end o' the table; no question asked him by any of the senators, but they stand bald before him. Our general himself makes a mistress of him; sanctifies himself with his hand,' and turns up the white o' the eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i'the middle, and but one half of what he was yesterday; for the other has half, by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and sowle the porter of Rome gates by the ears. He will mow down all before him, and leave his passage polled.3 2 Serv. And he's as like to do't, as any man I can imagine. 3 Serv. Do't? he will do't. For, look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies; which friends, sir, (as it were,) durst not (look you, sir) show themselves as we term it) his friends, whilst he's in directitude. 1 Serv. Directitude! what's that? 3 Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood, they will out of their burrows, like conies after rain, and revel all with him. 1 Serv. But when goes this forward? 3 Serv. To-morrow; to-day; presently. You shall have the drum struck up this afternoon; 'tis, as it were, a parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips. 2 Serv. Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing, but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers. 1 "Considers the touch of his hand as holy; clasps it with the same reverence as a lover would clasp the hand of his mistress." 2 To sowle is to pull by the ears. 3 i. e. bared, cleared. 4 See Act i. Sc. 1. 5 We should probably read, "This peace is good for nothing but," &c. 1 Serv. Let me have war, say I; it exceeds peace, as far as day does night; it's sprightly, waking, audible, and full of vent.' Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children, than war's a destroyer of men. 2 Serv. 'Tis so; and as wars, in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher; so it cannot be denied, but peace is a great maker of cuckolds. 1 Serv. Ay, and it makes men hate one another. 3 Serv. Reason; because they then less need one another. The wars, for my money. I hope to see Romans as cheap as Volcians. They are rising, they are rising. All. In, in, in, in. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Rome. A public Place. Enter SICINIUS and BRUtus. Sic. We hear not of him, neither need we fear him; His remedies are tame i' the present peace And quietness o' the people, which before Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends Blush, that the world goes well; who rather had, Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold Dissensious numbers pestering streets, than see Our tradesmen singing in their shops, and going About their functions friendly. Enter MENENius. Bru. We stood to't in good time. Is this Menenius? Sic. 'Tis he, 'tis he. O, he is grown most kind Of late,-Hail, sir! Men. Hail to you both! Sic. Your Coriolanus, sir, is not much missed, 1 i. e. full of rumor, full of materials for discourse. But with his friends. The commonwealth doth stand; And so would do, were he more angry at it. Men. All's well; and might have been much better, if He could have temporized. Sic. Where is he, hear you? Men. Nay, I hear nothing; his mother and his wife Hear nothing from him. Enter three or four Citizens. Cit. The gods preserve you both! Sic. Good e'en, our neighbors. Bru. Good e'en to you all, good e'en to you all. 1 Cit. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, Are bound to pray for you both. Sic. Live, and thrive! Bru. Farewell, kind neighbors; we wished Corio lanus Had loved you as we did. Cit. Now the gods keep you! Both Tri. Farewell, farewell. [Exeunt Citizens. Sic. This is a happier and more comely time, Than when these fellows ran about the streets, Crying, Confusion. Bru. Caius Marcius was A worthy officer i' the war; but insolent, Sic. And affecting one sole throne, Sic. We should by this, to all our lamentation, If he had gone forth consul, found it so.2 Bru. The gods have well prevented it, and Rome Sits safe and still without him. 1 i. e. he aimed at absolute power; he wanted to sway the state alone. 2 We should surely read, “have found it so." Enter Edile. Ed. Worthy tribunes, There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, Men. 'Tis Aufidius, Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment, Thrusts forth his horns again into the world; Which were inshelled, when Marcius stood1 for Rome, And durst not once peep out. Sic. Of Marcius? Come, what talk you Bru. Go see this rumorer whipped. It cannot be, The Volces dare break with us. Men. Cannot be ! We have record that very well it can ; And three examples of the like have been Mess. The nobles, in great earnestness, are going All to the senate-house; some news is come, That turns their countenances. Sic. 'Tis this slave; Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes;-his raising! 1 i. e. stood up in its defence. 2 To reason with, is to talk with. 3 Changes. Mess. Yes, worthy sir, The slave's report is seconded; and more, Sic. What more fearful? Mess. It is spoke freely out of many mouths, The young'st and oldest thing. Sic. This is most likely! Bru. Raised only, that the weaker sort may wish Good Marcius home again. Sic. Men. This is unlikely; The very trick on't. He and Aufidius can no more atone,1 Than violentest contrariety. Enter another Messenger. Mess. You are sent for to the senate: A fearful army, led by Caius Marcius, Upon our territories; and have already O'erborne their way, consumed with fire, and took Enter COMINIUS. Com. O, you have made good work! Men. What news? what news? Com. You have holp to ravish your own daughters, and To melt the city leads upon your pates; To see your wives dishonored to your noses ; Men. What's the news? what's the news? Com. Your temples burned in their cement; and Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined Into an auger's bore.2 1 i. e. atone, accord, agree. 2 So in Macbeth: |