First Cit.

Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

All. ^note

Speak, speak.

First Cit.

You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?

All.

Resolved, resolved.

First Cit.

First, you know Caius Marcius is chief ^note enemy to the people.

All.

We know't, we know't ^note.

First 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 it ^note be done: away, away!

Sec. Cit.

One word, good citizens.

First Cit.

We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians, good. What authority surfeits on ^note would relieve us: if they would yield us but the superfluity while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely ^note; but they think

we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object ^note of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain ^note to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes ^note, ere we become rakes ^note: for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

Sec. Cit.

Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius? ^note

All. ^note

Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty.

Sec. Cit.

Consider you what services he has done for his country?

First Cit.

Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud.

Sec. Cit. ^note

Nay, but speak not maliciously.

First Cit.

I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though soft-conscienced men can be content to say it was for his country, he did it to please ^note his mother and to be partly ^note proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

Sec. Cit.

What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.

First Cit.

If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these ^note? The other side o' the ^note city is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol!

All.

Come, come.

First Cit.

Soft! who comes here?

Sec. Cit.

Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people.

First Cit.

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

Men.

What work's ^note, my countrymen, in hand? where go you With ^note bats and clubs? the matter? speak, I pray you ^note.

First Cit. ^note

Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend ^note to do, which now we'll show '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? ^note

First Cit.
We cannot, sir, we are undone already.

Men.
I tell you, friends, most charitable care
Have the patricians of you. For your wants, ^note
Your suffering ^note in this dearth, you may as well
Strike at the heaven ^note 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 link ^note 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' the state, who care for you like fathers,
When you curse them as enemies.

First Cit.

Care for us! True, indeed! ^note They ne'er cared for us yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses 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,
Or be accused 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 ^note't a little more.

First Cit.

Well, I'll ^note hear it, sir: yet ^note you must not think to fob off our disgrace ^note with a tale: but, an't ^note please you, deliver ^note.

Men.
There was a time when all the body's members
Rebell'd against the belly; thus accused it:
That only like a gulf it did remain
I' the midst o' the ^note body, idle and unactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing
Like labour with the rest; where the other instruments
Did see and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,
And, mutually participate, ^note did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body. ^note The belly answer'd— ^note

First Cit.
Well, sir ^note, what answer made the belly?

Men.
Sir, I shall tell you. With ^note a kind of smile,
Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus—
For, look you, I may make the belly smile
As well as speak—it tauntingly ^note replied
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. ^note

First Cit.
Your belly's answer? What! ^note
The kingly-crowned ^note head, the vigilant eye,
The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,
Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter,
With other muniments and petty helps
In this our fabric, if that they—

Men.
What then?
'Fore me, this ^note fellow speaks! what then? what then? ^note

First Cit.
Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd,
Who is the sink o' the ^note body,—

Men.
Well, what then?

First Cit.
The former agents ^note, if they did complain,
What could the belly answer?

Men.
I will tell you; ^note
If you'll bestow a small ^note—of what you have little—
Patience awhile, you'll ^note hear the belly's answer.

First Cit.
You're ^note 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 store-house 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 ^note the seat o' the ^note brain;
And, through the cranks ^note and offices of man, ^note
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,— ^note

First 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 flour ^note of all,
And leave me but the bran.’ What say you to't?

First Cit.
It was an answer: how ^note 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 ^note things rightly
Touching the weal o' 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?

First 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 ^note foremost:

Thou rascal, that art ^note worst in blood ^note to run,
Lead'st first ^note to win some vantage ^note.
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 ^note. ^note Enter Caius Marcius.
Hail, noble Marcius!

Mar.
Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues,
That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?

First Cit.
We have ever your good word.

Mar.
He that will give good words to thee ^note will flatter
Beneath abhorring. What would you have ^note, you curs ^note,
That like nor peace ^note nor war? the one affrights you,
The other makes you proud ^note. He that trusts to you ^note,
Where he should find you lions, finds you ^note hares,
Where foxes, geese: you are no ^note surer, no,
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 ^note. 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 favours swims with fins of lead
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye? ^note

With every minute you do change a mind ^note,
And call him noble that was now your hate,
Him vile ^note that was ^note your garland. What's the matter,
That in these ^note 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 ^note,
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 ^note and who ^note 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 ^note!
Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,
And let me use my sword, I'ld make a quarry
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick ^note my lance. ^note

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

Mar.
They are dissolved: hang 'em! ^note
They said they were an-hungry; sigh'd 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 answer'd,
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 ^note their emulation ^note.

Men.
What is granted them?

Mar.
Five tribunes ^note to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
Of their own choice: one 's ^note Junius Brutus, ^note
Sicinius Velutus, and I ^note know not—'Sdeath ^note!
The rabble should have first unroof'd ^note the city,
Ere so prevail'd with me: it will in time
Win upon ^note power and throw forth greater themes
For insurrection's ^note arguing.

Men.
This is strange.

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

Mess.
Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar.
Here: what's ^note the matter?

Mess.
The news is, sir, the Volsces ^note are in arms.

Mar.
I am glad on 't: then we shall ha' ^note means to vent
Our musty superfluity. See, our ^note best elders.

Enter ^note Cominius, Titus Lartius, and other Senators; Junius Brutus and Sicinius Velutus. ^note

First Sen.
Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us;
The Volsces 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 would ^note wish me only he ^note.

Com.
You have fought together. ^note

Mar.
Were half to half the world by the ears, and he
Upon my party, I'ld revolt, to make
Only my wars ^note with him: he is a lion
That I am proud to hunt.

First Sen.
Then, worthy Marcius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

Com.
It is your former promise.

Mar.
Sir, it is;
And I am constant. Titus Lartius ^note, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' ^note 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!

First Sen. ^note
Your company to the Capitol; where, I know,
Our greatest friends attend us.

Tit. [To Com.]
Lead you on. [To Mar.]
Follow Cominius; ^note we must follow you;
Right worthy you ^note priority. ^note

Com.
Noble Marcius ^note!

First Sen. ^note [To the Citizens ^note]
Hence to your homes; be gone!

Mar.
Nay ^note, let them follow:
The Volsces have much corn; take these rats thither
To gnaw their garners. Worshipful ^note mutiners ^note,
Your valour puts well forth: pray ^note, follow. [Citizens ^note steal away. Exeunt all but 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 moved, he will not spare to gird the ^note gods.

Sic.
Bemock the modest moon.

Bru.
The present wars devour him: ^note he is grown
Too proud to be ^note 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. ^note

Bru.
Fame, at the which ^note he aims,
In whom ^note already he's ^note well graced, can not

Better be ^note held, nor more attain'd, 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 ^note Marcius ‘O, if he
Had borne the business!’

Sic.
Besides, if things go well,
Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits ^note rob Cominius.

Bru.
Come:
Half all Cominius' ^note honours are to Marcius, ^note
Though Marcius earn'd ^note them not; and all his faults
To Marcius 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 ^note singularity, he goes
Upon this present action.

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

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