No publick benefit, which you receive,

But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you,
And no way from your felves. What do you think?
You, the great toe of this Affembly!.

2 Cit. I the great toe! why, the great toe?

Men. For that, being one o' th' lowest, bafest, pooreft,

Of this moft wife Rebellion, thou goeft foremost:
Thou rafcal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead'ft first, to win fome vantage..

But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs,
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle:
(3) The one fide must have bale.

Enter Caius Marcius.

Hail, noble Marcius!

Mar. Thanks. What's the matter, you diffentious rogues,

That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make your felves fcabs ?

2 Cit. We have ever your good word.

Mar. He, that will give good words to thee, will flatter

Beneath abhorring. What would you have, ye Curs, That like nor peace, nor war? The one affrights you,

The other makes you proud. He that trufts to you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares:
Where foxes, geefe: You are no furer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,

(3) The one Side must have Bail.] It must be the vanquifht Side, fure, that could want it; and who were likely to be their Bail? But it is endlefs to queftion with Negligence and Stupidity. The Poet, undoubtedly, wrote, as I have reftor'd;

The one Side must have Bale.

i. e. Sorrow, Misfortune, muft have the worst of it, be difcomfited. I have reftor'd this Word in fome other Paffages of our Author; where the Editors feem'd not to be aware of any fuch Word in our Language.

Or

Or hailstone in the Sun. Your virtue is,

To make him worthy, whofe offence fubdues him, And curfe that juftice, did it. Who deferves Great

nefs,

Deferves your Hate; and your affections are
A fick man's appetite, who defires most That
Which would encrease his evil. He, that depends
Upon your favours, fwims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rufhes. Hang ye
truft ye!

With every minute you do change a mind,
And call him noble, that was now your hate;
Him vile, that was your garland.
That in the several places of the City

What's the matter,

You cry against the noble Senate, who

(Under the Gods) keep you in awe, which elfe Would feed on one another? what's their Seeking? Men. For corn at their own rates, whereof, they fay,

The City is well stor'd.

Mar. Hang 'em: they fay!

They'll fit by th' fire, and prefume to know

What's done i'th' Capitol; who's like to rise;
Who thrives, and who declines: fide factions, and give

out

Conjectural marriages; making parties ftrong,

And feeble fuch, as ftand not in their Liking,
Below their cobled fhooes. They fay, there's Grain
enough!

Would the Nobility lay afide their ruth,
And let me ufe my fword, I'd make a quarry
With thousands of thefe quarter'd Slaves, as high

As I could pitch my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly perfuaded : For though abundantly they lack difcretion,

Yet are they paffing cowardly. But, I beseech you,

What fays the other troop?

Mar. They are diffolv'd; hang 'em,

They said they were an hungry, figh'd forth Proverbs;

That hunger broke ftone walls

that dogs muft eat,-

That

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 Generofity,

And make bold Power look pale; they threw their
As they would hang them on the horns o'th' Moon,
Shouting their emulation.

Men. What is granted them?

caps

Mar. Five Tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms, Of their own choice. One's Junius Brutus, Sicinius Velutus, and I know not

s'death,
The rabble fhould have first unroof'd the City,
Ere fo prevail'd with me! it will in time

Win upon Power, and throw forth greater themes
For Infurrection's arguing.

Men. This is ftrange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar. Here-what's the matter?

Mef. The news is, Sir, the Volfcians are in arms. Mar. I'm glad on't, then we shall have means to vent Our mufty superfluity. See, our best Elders!

Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators.

1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told

us,

The Volfcians are in arms.

Mar. They have a Leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.

I fin in envying his Nobility:

And were any thing but what I am,

I'd with me only he.

Com. You have fought together?

Mar. Were half to half the world by th' ears, and he Upon my Party, I'd revolt, to make

Only

Only my wars with him. He is a lion,
That I am proud to hunt.

I Sen. Then, worthy Marcius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
Com. It is your former promise.

Mar. Sir, it is;

And I am conftant: Titus Lartius, thou

Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face.
What, art thou ftiff? stand'st out?

Tit. No, Caius Marcius,

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with t'other;
Ere ftay behind this business.

Men. O true-bred!

1 Sen. Your company to th' 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

Mar. Nay, let them follow;

-be gone.

[To the Citizens.

The Volfcians have much Corn: take these rats thither,
To gnaw their garners. Worshipful Mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth; pray, follow.-

[Exeunt. [Citizens feal away. Manent Sicinius and Brutus. Sic. Was ever man fo proud, as is this Marcius? Bro. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chofen Tribunes for the People-Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

Sic. Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not fpare to gird the

Gods

Sic. Be-mock the modeft Moon,

Bru. The prefent Wars devour him; he is

grown

Too proud, to be fo valiant.

Sic. Such a nature,

Tickled with good fuccefs, difdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon; but I do wonder,

His infolence 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 firft; for what miscarries
Shall be the General's fault, tho' he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy cenfure
Will then cry out of Marcius: oh, if he
Had borne the business

Sic, Befides, if things go well,

Opinion, that fo fticks 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 fhall 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 fingularity, he goes

Upon this present action.

Bru. Let's along.

SCENE changes to Corioli.

[Exeunt.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Senators of Corioli.
O, your opinion is, Aufidius,

1 Sen.

ST

That they of Rome are entred in our Counfels,

And know how we proceed.

Auf. Is it not yours?

What ever hath been thought on in this State,
That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome
Had circumvention ? 'tis not four days gone,

Since I heard thence. thefe are the words - I think, I have the letter here; yes - here it is ;

66

They have preft a Power, but it is not known

[Reading.

"Whether for Eaft or Weft; the Dearth is great,

The