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 yo! 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? 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 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?

To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him,

And curse that justice did it.] i. e. Your virtue is to speak well of him whom his own offences have subjected to justice; and to rail at those laws by which he whom you praise was punished.

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 pro

verbs ;

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,

their ruth,] i. e. their pity, compassion. Fairfax and Spenser often use the word. Hence the adjective-ruthless, which

is still current.

5

I'd make a quarry-] Mr. Steevens asserts, that quarry means game pursued or killed, and supports that opinion by a passage in Massinger's Guardian: and from thence, perhaps, the word was used to express a heap of slaughtered persons.

7 the heart of generosity,] To give the final blow to the nobles. Generosity is high birth.

8 Shouting their emulation.] Emulation, in the present instance, perhaps, signifies faction. Shouting their emulation, may mean, expressing the triumph of their faction by shouts. Emulation, in our author, is sometimes used in an unfavourable sense, and not to imply an honest contest for superior excellence.

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".

Men.

This is strange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Messenger.

Here: What's the matter?

Mess. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar.

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

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;
JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS Velutus.

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

Mar.

They have a leader, The

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.

255-PGP

Then, worthy Marcius,

Sir, it is,

Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

Com. It is your former promise.
Mar.

And I am constant.-Titus Lartius, thou

"For insurrection's arguing.] For insurgents to debate upon.

VOL. VI.

k k

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 1.

Com

Noble Lartius!

1 Sen. Hence! To your homes, be gone.

Mar.

[To the Citizens.

Nay, let them follow :

The Volces have much corn; take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners:-Worshipful mutineers,

Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.

[Exeunt Senators, Coм. 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.

Right worthy you priority.] You being right worthy of precedence.

Your valour puts well forth :] That is, You have in this mutiny shown fair blossoms of valour.

3

to gird -] To sneer, to gibe.

The present wars devour him: he is grown

Too proud to be so valiant.] He is grown too proud to be so valiant, may signify, his pride is such as not to deserve the accompaniment of so much valour.

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 sudura lo be entrusted

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'.

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

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, and certain Senators.

1 Sen. So, your opinion is, Aufidius,

5 of his demerits rob Cominius.] Merits and demerits had anciently the same meaning.

6 More than in singularity, &c.] After what fashion, beside that in which his own singularity of disposition invests him, he goes into the field.