SCENE, the Forum, in ROME.

Enter Menenius and Sicinius.

EE you yond coin o'th' Capitol, yond cornerftone?

Men. SEO

Sic. Why, what of that?

Men. If it be poffible for you to difplace it with your little finger, there is fome hope the Ladies of Rome, especially his mother, may prevail with him. But, I fay, there is no hope in't; our throats are sentenc'd, and stay upon execution.

Sic. Is't poffible, that fo fhort a time can alter the condition of a man?

Men. There is difference between a grub and a butterfly, yet your butterfly was a grub; this Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings, he's more than a creeping thing.

Sic. He lov'd his mother dearly.

Men. So did he me; and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight years old horfe. The tartness of his face fours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground fhrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce a corflet with his eye: talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He fits in his State, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finish'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a God, but Eternity, and a heaven to throne in.

Sic. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.

Men. I paint him in the character. Mark, what mercy his mother fhal! bring from him; there is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tyger; that fhall our poor City find; and all this is long of you.

Sic. The Gods be good unto us!
VOL. VI.

U

Men.

Men. No, in fuch a cafe the Gods will not be good unto us. When we banifh'd him, we refpected not them and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

Enter a Meffenger..

Mef. Sir, if you'd fave your life, fly to your houfe;
The Plebeians have got your fellow-tribune,
And hale him up and down; All fwearing, if
The Roman Ladies bring not comfort home,
They'll give him death by inches.

Enter another Meffenger.

Sic. What's the news?

Mef. Good news, good news, the Ladies have pre-
vail'd,

"The Volfcians are diflodg'd, and Marcius gone:
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not th' Expulfion of the Tarquins.

Sic. Friend,

Art certain, this is true? is it most certain ?

Mef. As certain, as I know the Sun is fire:
Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?
Ne'er through an Arch fo hurried the blown tide,
As the recomforted through th' gates. Why, hark you;
[Trumpets, Hautboys, Drums beat, all, together.
The trumpets, fackbuts, pfalteries and fifes,

Tabors and cymbals, and the shouting Romans
Make the Sun dance. Hark you!

Men. This is good news:

[Afbout within.

I will go meet the Ladies. This Volumnia
Is worth of Confuls, Senators, Patricians,
A City full; of Tribunes, fuch as you,

A Sea and Land full. You've pray'd well to day
This morning, for ten thousand of your throats

I'd

2

I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy! [Sound ftill, with the fhouts.

Sic. First, the Gods blefs you for your tidings: next,

Accept my thankfulness.

Mef. Sir, we have all great cause to

thanks.

Sic. They're near the City?

give great

Mef. Almoft at point to enter.

Sic. We'll meet them, and help the joy.

[Exeunt.

Enter two Senators, with ladies, paling over the ftage; with other Lords.

Sen. Behold our Patronefs, the Life of Rome: Call all your Tribes together, praise the Gods, And make triumphant fires: ftrew flowers before them: Unfhout the noise, that banish'd Marcius; Repeal him with the welcome of his mother: Cry, welcome, Ladies, welcome! All. Welcome, Ladies, welcome ! →→→

[Exeunt.

[A flourish with drums and trumpets

SCENE changes to a publick Place in
Antium.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Attendants.

Auf. Gell

O tell the Lords o'th' City, I am here:
Deliver them this paper: having read it,
Bid them repair to th' market-place, where I,
Even in theirs and in the Commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. He, I accufe,
The city-ports by this hath enter'd; and
Intends t'appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words. Difpatch.
welcome!

Moft

Enter three or four Confpirators of Aufidius's faction.

1 Con. How is it with our General ?
Auf. Even fo,

As with a man by his own alms impoison'd,
And with his charity flain.

2 Con. Most noble Sir,

If you do hold the fame intent, wherein
You wish'd us parties; we'll deliver you
Of your great danger.

Auf. Sir, I cannot tell;

We must proceed, as we do find the people.

3 Con. The people will remain uncertain, whilft "Twixt you there's difference; but the Fall of either Makes the Survivor heir of all.

Auf. I know it;

And my pretext to strike at him admits

A good conftruction. I raised him, and pawn'd
Mine honour for his truth; who being fo heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing fo my friends; and to this end,

He bow'd his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unfwayable, and free.
3 Con. Sir, his ftoutness

When he did ftand for Conful, which he loft
By lack of ftooping-

Auf. That I would have spoke of:

Being banish'd for't, he came unto my hearth,
Prefented to my knife his throat; I took him,
Made him joint fervant with me; gave him way
In all his own defires; nay, let him chufe
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
My best and fresheft men; ferv'd his defignments
In mine own perfon; holpe to reap the Fame,
Which he did make all his; and took fome pride
To do my felf this wrong; 'till, at the last,

I feem'd

I feem'd his follower, not partner ;
And he wag'd me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.

1 Con. So he did, my lord:

The army marvell'd at it, and, at last,

When he had carried Rome, and that we looked
For no lefs Spoil, than Glory

Auf. There was it;

(For which my finews fhall be ftretch'd upon him;)
At a few drops of women's rheum, which are
As cheap as lies, he fold the Blood and Labour
Of our great Action; therefore shall he die,
And I'll renew me in his Fall. But, hark!

[Drums and trumpets found, with great shouts
of the People.

1 Con. Your native Town you enter'd like a Poft, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the Air with noise.

2 Con. And patient fools,

Whose children he hath flain, their base throats tear, Giving him glory.

3 Con. Therefore, at your vantage,

Ere he exprefs himfelf, or move the people

With what he would fay, let him feel your fword,
Which we will fecond. When he lies along,

After your way his Tale pronounc'd shall bury
His reasons with his body.

Auf. Say no more,

Here come the lords.

Enter the Lords of the City.

All Lords. You're most welcome home.

Auf. I have not deferv'd it.

But, worthy lords, have you with heed perus'd

What I have written to you?

All. We have.

1 Lord. And grieve to hear it.

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What