To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him, And curse that justice, did it. Who deserves Great

ness,

Deserves your Hate; and your affections are
A fick man's appetite, who defires 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 matter,

That in the several places of the City

"

You cry against the noble Senate, who

(Under the Gods) keep you in awe, which elfe Would feed on one another? what's their Seeking?

Men. For corn at their own rates, whereof, they fay,

The City is well stor'd.

Mar. Hang 'em: they say!

They'll fit by th' fire, and prefume to know

What's done i'th' Capitol; who's like to rife;

Who thrives, and who declines: fide factions, and give

out

A

Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling Such, as stand not in their Liking,
Below their cobbled shooes. They say, there's Grain

enough!

Would the Nobility lay afide their ruth,

And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry

With thousands of these quarter'd Slaves, as high
As I could pitch my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded:
For though abundantly they lack difcretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What says the other troop?

Mar. They are diffolv'd; hang 'em, They said they were an hungry, figh'd forth Proverbs; That hunger broke stone walls - that dogs must eat, That meat was made for mouths - that the Gods fent not Corn for the rich men only - With these shreds

They vented their complainings: which being answer'd,

And

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'th' Moon, Shouting their emulation.

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-s'death,
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 Meffenger.

Mes. Where's Caius Marcius?
Mar. Here what's the matter?

:

Mef. The news is, Sir, the Volscians are in arms. Mar. I'm glad on't, then we shall have means to vent Our musty superfluity. See, our best Elders!

Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Cominius,
Titus Lartius, with other Senators.

I Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us, The Volfcians are in arms.

Mar. They have a Leader,
Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.
I fin in envying his Nobility:

And were I any thing but what I am,

I'd wish me only he.

Com. You have fought together?

Mar. Were half to half the world by th' 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.

I Sen. Then worthy Marcius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
Gom. It is your former promise.

Mar.

;

Mar. Sir, it is;

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 t'other;

Ere stay behind this business.

Men. O true bred!

I Sen. Your company to th' 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.

Mar. Nay, let them follow;

:

[To the Citizens.

The Volfcians have much Corn: take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners. Worshipful Mutineers, Your valour puts well forth; pray, follow.

[Exeunt.

[Citizens fteal away. Manent Sicinius and Brutus. 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. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

Sic. Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the

Gods

Sic. Be-mock the modest Moon,

Bru. (4) The present Wars devour him; he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.

(4) The present Wars devour him; he is grown

Too proud to be so valiant.] This is very obscurely express'd; but the Poet's Meaning must certainly be This. Marcius is so confcious of, and so elate upon, the Notion of his own Valour, that he is eaten up with Pride; devour'd with the Apprehensions of That Glory which he promises himself from the ensueing War. A Sentiment, like This, occurs again in Troilus and Cressida.

He, that is proud, eats up himself. Pride is his own Glass, his own Trumpet, his own Chronicle and whatever praises itself but in the Deed, devours the Deed in the Praise.

Sic. 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, tho' he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Marcius: oh, 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,

1

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 ought he merit not.

Sic. Let's hence, and hear

How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion,

More than his fingularity, he goes

Upon this present action.

Bru. Let's along.

SCENE changes to Corioli.

[Exeunt.

And know how we proceed.

Auf. Is it not yours?

What ever hath been thought on in this State,

That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome

Had circumvention? 'tis not four days gone,

Since I heard thence

these are the words - I think,

I

I have the letter here; yes - here it is;

" They have prest a Power, but it is not known

[Reading.

" Whether for East or West; the Dearth is great,
" The People mutinous; and it is rumour'd,
" Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,
" (Who is of Rome worse hated than of you)
" And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
"These three lead on this preparation

" Whither 'tis bent - most likely, 'tis for you:
"Confider of it.

I Sen. Our Army's in the Field :

We never yet made doubt, but Rome was ready
To answer us.

Auf. Nor did you think it folly

To keep your great pretences veil'd, 'till when
They needs must shew themselves; which in the hatch-

ing,

It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,
We shall be shortned in our aim, which was
To take in many Towns, ere (almost) Rome
Should know we were a-foot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

Take your Commission, hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli;

If they set down before's, for the Remove
Bring up your Army: but, I think, you'll find,
They've not prepar'd for us.

Auf. O, doubt not That,

I speak from certainties. Nay more,
Some parcels of their Power are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your Honours.
If We and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis sworn between us, we shall ever strike
'Till one can do no more,

All. The Gods assist you!

Auf. And keep your Honours fafe!

I Sen. Farewel.

2 Sen. Farewel.

All. Farewel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE