1 Citizen.

Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

All.

Speak, speak.

1 Cit.

You are all resolv'd rather to die, than to famish?

All.

Resolv'd, resolv'd.

1 Cit.

First, you know, Caius Martius is the chief enemy to the people.

All.

We know't.

1 Cit.

Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict?

All.

No more talking on't, let't be done; away, away!

2 Cit.

One word, good citizens.

1 Cit.

We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians good: 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: the leanness that afflicts us, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance.† ^note Let us revenge this with our pitchforks, ere we become rakes: for the gods know, I speak this in hunger, for bread, not in thirst, for revenge.

2 Cit.

Would you proceed especially against Caius Martius?

All.

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.* ^note

All.

Nay, but speak not maliciously.

1 Cit.

I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end; though soft-conscienc'd men can be content to say, it was for his country; he did it to please his mother, and partly to be 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.

What shouts are those? the other side o'th' city is risen; why stay we prating here? to th' capitol—

All.

Come, come.

1 Cit.

Soft—who comes here?

2 Cit.

Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always lov'd the people.

1 Cit.

He's one honest enough; would all the rest were so!

Men.

What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you with your bats and clubs? the matter —speak, I pray you.

1 Cit.

Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling,* ^note 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 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 sufferings 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 links 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'th' state, who care for you, like fathers,
When you curse them, as enemies.† ^note

1 Cit.

Care for us?—true, indeed! they ne'er car'd for us, yet. Suffer us to famish, and their store-houses cramm'd 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 stale't, a little more.

1 Cit.
Well,
We'll hear it, Sir; but yet you must not think
To fob off our disgraces with a tale;
But, an't please you, deliver.

Men.
There was a time when all the body's members‡ ^note
Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it—
That only like a gulph it did remain
I'th' midst o'th' body, idle and unactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing
Like labour with the rest; where th' 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 answer'd—

1 Cit.
Well, Sir, what answer made the belly?

Men.
Sir, I shall tell you: with a kind of smile,
(For look you, I may make the belly smile,
As well as speak) it tauntingly reply'd,
To the discontented members, the mutinous parts,
That envied his receipt; even so most fitly,
As you malign our senators, for that
They are not such as you—

1 Cit.
Your belly's answer—what?
The kingly crowned head, the vigilant eye,

The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,
Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter;
With other muniments* ^note and petty helps,
In this our fabrick, if that they—§ ^note

Men.
What then?—for me this fellow speaks.
What then? what then?

1 Cit.
Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd,
Who is the sink o'th' body—

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.
Y'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,
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, to th' seat o'th' brain,
And through the cranks 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) mark me—

2 Cit.
Ay, Sir; well, well.

Men.
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 flow'r 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,
Touching the weal o'th' common, you shall find
No publick benefit which you receive,
But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you,
And no way from your selves. What do you think?* ^note
You, the great toe of this assembly?

1 Cit.
I the great toe! why the great toe?

Men.
For that being one o'th' lowest, basest, poorest,
Of this most wise rebellion, thou goest foremost:
Thou rascal, that art first from blows 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 bane. Enter Caius Martius.† ^note
Hail, noble Martius!

Mar.
Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues.

2 Cit.
We have ever your good word.

Mar.
He that will give good words to thee, will flatter
‡ ^noteBeneath abhorring. What would you have, ye curs,
That like not peace, nor war? The one affrights you,
The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;

Where foxes, geese. 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 else
Would feed on one another?—What's their seeking?

Men.
For corn at their own rates, whereof, they say,
The city is well stor'd.

Mar.
Hang 'em: they say!—
They'll sit by th' fire, and presume to know
What's done i'th' capitol; who's like to rise,
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 pity, and let me use my sword, I'd make
A quarry of these quarter'd slaves,
As high as I could pitch my lance.

Men.
Nay, these
Are almost thoroughly persuaded: for
Although abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. I beseech you,
What says the other troop?

Mar.
They are dissolv'd;
They said they were an hungry, sigh'd forth proverbs;
That hunger broke stone walls—that dogs must eat—
With these shreds
They vented their complainings; which being answer'd,
And a petition granted them,
They threw their caps
As they would hang them on the horns o'th' moon,
Shouting their emulation.

Men.
What is granted?

Mar.
Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
Of their own choice. One of them'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.* ^note

Men.
This is strange.

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

Mes.
Where's Caius Martius?

Mar.
Here—what is the matter?

Mes.
The news is, Sir, the Volscians are in arms.

Mar.
I am 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.

Tit.
Martius, 'tis true that you have lately told us,
The Volscians 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 any thing but what I am,
I'd wish me only him.† ^note

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.

Tit.
Then, worthy Martius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

Com.
It is your former promise.

Com.
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?

Lar.
No, Caius Martius;
I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other,
Ere stay behind this business.

Men.
O true bred!

Com.
Your company to th'Capitol; where I know
Our greatest friends attend us.

Lar.
Lead you on;
Follow, Cominius! we must follow you,
Right worthy your priority.

Com.
Noble Lartius!

Men.
Hence to your homes—be gone. [To the Citizens.

Mar.
Nay, let them follow;
The Volscians have much corn: take these rats thither,
To know their garners. Worshipful mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth; I pray you follow. [Exeunt. Citizens steal away. Manent Sicinius and Brutus.

Sic.
Was ever man so proud as is this Martius?

Bru.
He has no equal.

Sic.
When we were chosen tribunes of 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* ^note the Gods—
The present war devour him! he is grown
Too proud of being so valiant.

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 which he aims,
In which 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 Martius; oh, if he
Had borne the business—

Sic.
And if things go well,
Opinion, that so sticks on Martius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Bru.
Come;
Half all Cominius' honours are to Martius,
Though Martius earn'd them not; and all his faults
To Martius shall be honours, though indeed
In aught he merit not.

Sic.
Let's hence, and hear
How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion,
More than his singularity, he goes
Upon this present action.

Bru.
Let's along* ^note. [Exeunt.

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