First Sen. Not in this heat, sir, now. Cor. Now, as I live, I will. My nobler friends, For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them Therein behold themselves: I say again, In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd, and scatter'd, By mingling them with us, the honour'd number, Men. Well, no more. First Sen. No more words, we beseech you. How! no more! As for my country I have shed my blood, Bru. 70 You speak o' the people, 80 As if you were a god to punish, not A man of their infirmity. Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, By Jove, 'twould be my mind! Sic. It is a mind That shall remain a poison where it is, Cor. 70. cockle, the corn-cockle, a common weed in corn-fields. Shall remain ! 79. tetter, cover as with a skin disease. Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you You grave but reckless senators, have you thus That with his peremptory 'shall,' being but The horn and noise o' the monster's, wants not spirit If he have power, To say he'll turn your current in a ditch, 89. Triton, Neptune's trumpeter, was powerful among the sea-gods, calming the ocean at his own pleasure. 90. from the canon, an infraction of the rule; the tribunes have acted ultra vires in declaring what is to be, without the consent of the people. 93. Hydra, the 'many-headed multitude.' The Hydra' was a monster with many heads, inhabiting the low lands about Lake Lerna. It was slain by Hercules. 98. vail your ignorance, drop your idle pretensions. 103. When the great'st taste most palates theirs, when the predominant taste is adapted to their palate. 110. It has been remarked that there was never a constitution which looks more unworkable on paper than the Roman. But the Romans had a genius for government, which prevented deadlocks. May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take Com. Well, on to the market-place. Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o' the storehouse gratis, as 'twas used Sometime in Greece,— Men. Well, well, no more of that. Cor. Though there the people had more abso lute power, I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed The ruin of the state. Was not our recompense, resting well assured war, Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, They would not thread the gates. This kind of service : Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i' the war, They gave us our demands.' Thus we debase 120 130 131. bisson multitude. So On 'bisson' cf note to ii. L. Dyce. Ff 'bosome-multiplied.' 70. Call our cares fears; which will in time Break ope the locks o' the senate and bring in Men. Come, enough. Bru. Enough, with over-measure. Cor. No, take more: 140 What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Seal what I end withal! This double worship, Where one part does disdain with cause, the other Insult without all reason, where gentry, title, wisdom, Cannot conclude but by the yea and no Of general ignorance,—it must omit Real necessities, and give way the while To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows, Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech you, You that will be less fearful than discreet, More than you doubt the change on 't, that prefer To jump a body with a dangerous physic Bru. 'Has said enough; Sic. 'Has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer As traitors do. Cor. Thou wretch, despite o'erwhelm thee! 144. without all, without any, or beyond all. 154. To jump, to imperil. 150 160 What should the people do with these bald tri bunes? On whom depending, their obedience fails To the greater bench: in a rebellion, When what's not meet, but what must be, was law, Let what is meet be said it must be meet, And throw their power i' the dust. Bru. Manifest treason! Sic. Bru. The ædiles, ho! This a consul? no. Enter an Edile. Let him be apprehended. Sic. Go, call the people: [Exit Edile] in whose name myself Attach thee as a traitorous innovator, A foe to the public weal: obey, I charge thee, Cor. Hence, old goat! Aged sir, hands off. Senators, etc. We'll surety him. Com. Cor. Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy garments. Sic. Help, ye citizens ! Enter a rabble of Citizens (Plebeians) with the Ediles. Men. On both sides more respect. Sic. Here's he that would take from you all your power. Bru. Seize him, ædiles ! 165. bald, witless ('chauve d'esprit'; bauld-spirited; that hath as little wit in, as he hath 170 180 |