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Make yourselves scabs? |
FIRST CITIZEN. We have ever your good word. |
MARCIUS. He that will give good words to thee will flatter |
Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs, |
That like nor 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; you are no 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. 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? |
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 these 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? |
MENENIUS. For corn at their own rates, whereof they say |
The city is well stor'd. |
MARCIUS. 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, |
Who thrives and who 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! |
Would the nobility lay aside 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 pick my lance. |
MENENIUS. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; |
For though abundantly they lack discretion, |
Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you, |
What says the other troop? |
MARCIUS. They are dissolv'd. Hang 'em! |
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' th' moon, |
Shouting their emulation. |
MENENIUS. What is granted them? |
MARCIUS. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wisdoms, |
Of their own choice. One's Junius Brutus- |
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. 'Sdeath! |
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. |
MENENIUS. This is strange. |
MARCIUS. Go get you home, you fragments. |
Enter a MESSENGER, hastily |
MESSENGER. Where's Caius Marcius? |
MARCIUS. Here. What's the matter? |
MESSENGER. The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms. |
MARCIUS. I am glad on't; then we shall ha' means to vent |
Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders. |
Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, with other SENATORS; |
JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS |
FIRST SENATOR. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us: |
The Volsces are in arms. |
MARCIUS. They have a leader, |
Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. |
I sin in envying his nobility; |
And were I anything but what I am, |
I would wish me only he. |
COMINIUS. You have fought together? |
MARCIUS. 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. |
FIRST SENATOR. Then, worthy Marcius, |
Attend upon Cominius to these wars. |
COMINIUS. It is your former promise. |
MARCIUS. 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? |
LARTIUS. No, Caius Marcius; |
I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other |
Ere stay behind this business. |
MENENIUS. O, true bred! |
FIRST SENATOR. Your company to th' Capitol; where, I know, |
Our greatest friends attend us. |
LARTIUS. [To COMINIUS] Lead you on. |
[To MARCIUS] Follow Cominius; we must follow you; |
Right worthy you priority. |
COMINIUS. Noble Marcius! |
FIRST SENATOR. [To the Citizens] Hence to your homes; be gone. |
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