That envied his receipt; even so most fitly
As you malign our senators, for that
They are not such as you.

2 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 and petty helps

In this our fabric, if that they

Men. What then?

'Fore me, this fellow speaks!-what then? what then?

1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd,

Who is the sink o'the 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. You 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 store-house, and the shop Of the whole body: But if you do remember, Isend it through the rivers of your blood, Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o'the 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,Cits. 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 flower 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'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?-

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 foremost :
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood, 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 bale.-Hail, noble Marcius!

Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.

Mar. Thanks.--What's the matter, you dissensious

That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,

Make yourselves scabs ?

[rogues,

1 Cit. We have ever your good word.
Mar. 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 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,

J

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?

Men. For corn at their own rate; whereof, they say,

The city is well stor'd.

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, 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."

Men. 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?

Mar. They are dissolved: 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'the 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-'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

[5] Ruth---that is, their pity, compassion. STEEVENS.

[6] Why a quarry? I suppose, not because he would pile them square, but because he would give them for carrion to the birds of prey. JOHNSON.

[7] And so the word [pitch] is still pronounced iced in Staffordshire, where they say--picke me such a thing, that is, pitch or throw any thing that the demander wants.

TOLLET.

[8] To give the final blow to the nobles. Generosity is high birth. JOHNSON.

CORIOLANUS.

For insurrection's arguing.

Men. This is strange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar. Here: What's the matter?

Mes. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms.

209

Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means to vent

Our musty superfluity :-See, our best elders.

Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators: Ju

NIUS BRUTUS, and SiCINIUS VELUTUS.

1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us ; The Volces are in arms.9

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 wish me only he.

Com. You have fought together.

Mar. Were half to half the world by the 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.

1 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, 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 the other,

Ere stay behind this business.

Men. O, true bred !

1 Sen. Your company to the 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, begone. [To the citizens. Mar. Nay, let them follow :

[9] The meaning is, The intelligence which you gave us some little time ago of the designs of the Volos is now verified; they are in arme. JOHNSON.

14

VOL. VII.

The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither,
To gnaw their garners :-Worshipful mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth :' pray, follow.

[Exeunt Senators, COM. MAR. TIT. and MENEN.
Citizens steal away.

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. The present wars devour him: he is grown

Too proud to be so valiant.

Sic. Such a naturè,

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, though he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Marcius, O, if he
Had borne the business!

Sic. Besides, if things go well,
Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.3

Bru. Come:

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 aught he merit not.

Sic. Let's hence, and hear

How the despatch is made; and in what fashion,
More than in singularity, he goes,

Upon this present action.

Bru. Let's along.

[Exeunt.