With bats and clubs? The matter: speak, I pray Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing Like labor with the rest: where the other instruments you. 1st Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate they have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, which now we'll shew '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 neighbors, Will you undo yourselves? 1st Cit. We cannot, sir; we are undone already. Thither where more attends and you; you slander Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 1st Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly? The helms o'the state, who care for you like 'Fore me this fellow speaks?-what then; what fathers, When you curse them as enemies. 1st 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, 1st Cit. Well I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an 't please you, deliver. Men. : Note me this, good friend: Men. There was a time when all the body's I send it through the rivers of your blood, members Rebelled against the belly; thus accused it: Even to the court, the heart, the Senate, brain; Touching the weal o' the common; you shall find, Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else 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? 1st Cit. I the great toe! Why the great toe? poorest, But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs: Enter CAIUS MARCIUS. Mar. Thanks. Mar. Hang 'em! they say? Conjectural marriages: making parties strong, Would the nobility lay aside their ruth, And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry - What's the matter, you dis- As I could pick my lance. That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs? Men. Nay, these are all most thoroughly per- For though abundantly they lack discretion, Mar. They are dissolved. Hang 'em! They said they were an hungry: sighed forth proverbs: That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you, Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; 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 an- And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou swered, And a petition granted them, a strange one (To break the heart of generosity, Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face: Tit. No, Caius Marcius: And make bold power look pale), they threw their I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other, caps As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon, Men. What is granted them? 1st Sen. Your company to the Capitol where I know Mar. Five tributes, to defend their vulgar wis- Our greatest friends attend us. How the despatch is made; and in what fashion, And only hitherward. I leave your honors. All. The gods assist you. Auf. And keep your honors safe. 1st Sen. Farewell. 2nd Sen. Farewell. All, Farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Rome. An Apartment in MARCIUS' House. Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA: they sit down on two low stools, and sew. Vol. I pray you, daughter, sing; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honor, than in the embracements of his bed, where he would shew most love. When he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way; when, for a day of king's entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I, -considering how honor would become such a person; that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall, if renown made it not stir, was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child, than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man. -- Vir. But had he died in the business, madam; how then? Vol. Then his good report should have been my son: I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country, than one voluptuously surfeit out of action. Enter a Gentlewoman. Gent. Madam, the lady Valeria is come to visit you. Vir. 'Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself. Vol. Indeed you shall not. Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum; Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba, When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood At Grecian swords contemning. - Tell Valeria We are fit to bid her welcome. [Exit Gentlewoman. Vir. Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius! Vol. He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee, And tread upon his neck. Re-enter Gentlewoman, with VALERIA and her after a gilded butterfly; and when he caught it, he let it go again; and after it again; and over and over he comes, and up again; catched it again: or whether his fall enraged him, or how 't was, he did so set his teeth and tear it: O, I warrant, how he mammocked it! Vol. One of his father's moods. Val. Come, lay aside your stitchery: I must have you play the idle huswife with me this after noon. Vir. No, good madam: I will not out of doors. Vir. Indeed, no, by your patience. I will not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars. Val. Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably. Come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in. Vir. I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither. Vol. Why, I pray you? Vir. 'T is not to save labor, nor that I want love. Val. You would be another Penelope : yet they say, all the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come: I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us. Vir. No, good madam, pardon me: indeed I will not forth. Val. In truth, la, go with me; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband. Vir. O, good madam, there can be none yet. Val. Verily I do not jest with you: there came news from him last night. |