CORIOLA ANUS. A C T I. SCENE I. Enter a company of mutinous Citizens with ftaves, clubs, and other weapons. I CITIZEN. BEFORE we proceed any farther, hear me speak. Speak, fpeak. 1 Cit. You are all refolv'd rather to die than to famifh? All. Refoly'd, refolv'd. 1 Cit. First, you know, Caius Marcius is the chief enemy to the people. All. We know't, we know't. 1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have Corn at our own price. Is't a Verdict? All. No more falking on't, let't be done; away, away. 2 Cit. One word, good Citizens. 1 Cit. We are accounted poor Citizens; the Patricians, good: what Authority furfeits on, would relieve us if they would yield us but the fuperfluity, while it were wholefome, we might guefs, they relieved us humanely but they think, we are too dear; the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance our fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our Pikes, ere we become Rakes: for the Gods know, I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius. A 3 All. All. Against him firft: he's a very dog to the Commonalty. 2 Cit. Confider you, what services he has done for his Country! 1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't; but that he pays himself with being proud. All. Nay, but fpeak not maliciously. 1 Cit. I fay unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end; though foft confcienc'd Men can be content to fay, it was for his Country; he did it to please his Mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue. 2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: you must in no ways fay, he is covetous. 1 Cit. If I muft not, I need not be barren of accufations; he hath faults, with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are those? the other fide o' th' City is rifen; why ftay we prating here? To the Capitol All. Come, come.. 2. Cit. -who comes here?* SCENE II. Enter Menenius Agrippa. WORTHY Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always lov'd the People. 1 Cit. He's one honeft enough; 'would, all the rest were fo! Men. What Work's, my Countrymen, in hand? where go you With bats and clubs ? the matter-Speak, I pray you. 2 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the Senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll fhew 'em in deeds: they fay, poor Suiters have ftrong breaths; they fhall. know, we have strong arms too. Men. ८ Men. Why, Mafters, my good Friends, mine honeft Neighbours, Will you undo yourselves? 2 Cit. We cannot, Sir, we are undone already. Men. I tell you, Friends, most charitable care Have the Patricians of you: For your wants, Your fufferings in this Dearth, you may as well Strike at the Heaven with your ftaves, as lift them Against the Roman State; whofe Course will on The way it takes, cracking ten thousand Curbs Of more ftrong Links asunder, than can ever Appear in your Impediment. For the Dearth, The Gods, not the Patricians, make it; and Your Knees to them (not Arms) muft help. Alack, You are transported by Calamity Thither where more attends you; and you flander The Helms o' th' State, who care for you like Fathers, When you curse them as Enemies. 2 Cit. Care for us! —true, indeed! they ne'er car'd for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their Store-houses cramm'd with grain: make Edicts for Ufury, to support Ufurers; repeal daily any wholefome Act established against the Rich, and provide. more piercing Statutes daily to chain up and restrain the Poor. If the Wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us. Men. Either you muft Confefs yourselves wond'rous malicious, Or be accus'd of folly. I fhall tell you 2 Cit. Well, To fcale't a little more] Thus all the Editions as Mr. Theobald con feffes, who alters it to ftate't. And for a good Reason, because he can find no Senfe (he fays) in the common Reading. For as good a Reason, I who can, have reftor'd the old one to its Place. To scale't fignifying to weigh, examine and apply it. A 4 Warb. I'll -I'll hear it, Sir yet you must not think To fob off our difgraces with a Tale: But, an't please you, deliver. Men. There was a time, when all the body's members Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it;' I' th' midft o' th' body, idle and unactive, ments Did fee, and hear, devife, inftruct, walk, feel, 2 Cit. Well; Sir, what answer made the belly? Men. Sir, I fhall tell you. With a kind of smile, Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus(For look you, I may make the belly fmile, As well as fpeak) it tauntingly reply'd To th' difcontented Members, th' mutinous Parts, 2 Cit. Your belly's anfwer-what! Men. What then? Fore me, this fellow speaks. What then? what then? 2 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, Who is the fink o' th' body, Men. Well, what then? 2 Cit. The former Agents, if they did complain, What could the belly anfwer? Men. I will tell you, If If you'll beftow a fmall (of what you have little) Patience, a while; you'll hear the belly's anfwer. 2 Cit. Y'are long about it. Men. Note me this, good Friend; Your moft grave belly was deliberate, Not rafh, like his accufers; and thus anfwer'd; me 2 Cit. Ay, Sir, well, well. Men. Though all at once cannot See what I do deliver out to each, Yet can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flow'r of all, But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, 2 Cit. I the great toe! why, the great toe? pooreft, Of this moft wife, Rebellion, thou goeft foremost: |