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CORIOLANUS.

ACTI. SCENE I.

A Street in ROME.

Enter a company of mutinous Citizens with ftaves, clubs, and other weapons.

B

ICITIZEN.

EFORE we proceed any further, hear me fpeak.

All. Speak, fpeak.

1 Cit. You are all refolv'd rather to die than to famish?

All. Refolv'd, refolv'd.

1 Cit. First, you know, Caius Martius is the chief enemy to the people.

All. 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 talking 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 wholfome, we might guefs they reliev'd us humanely: but they think we are too dear; the leannefs that afflicts us, the

F 2

object

1

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 'pitchforks, ere we become rakes: for the Gods know, I fpeak this in hunger for bread, not in thirft for revenge.

2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Martius?

All. Against him firft: he's a very dog to the commonalty.

2 Cit. Confider you what fervices 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 say it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and partly to be proud, which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

2

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 must not, I need not be barren of accufations; he hath faults, with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What fhouts are thofe? the other fide o' th' city is rifen; why ftay we prating here? to th' Capitol

All. Come, come.
1 Cit. Soft

who comes here?

SCENE II.

Enter Menenius Agrippa.

2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always lov'd the people.

1 Cit. He's one honeft enough; would all the rest were fo!

pikes,

2 to be partly

Men.

Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you with your bats and clubs? the matter- fpeak, I

pray you.

2 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the fenate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll fhew 'em indeeds: they fay, poor fuitors have strong breaths; they fhall know we have ftrong arms

too.

Men. Why, mafters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, will you undo your felves?

2 Cit. We cannot, Sir, we are undone already.
Men. I tell you, friends, moft 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 ftate; whofe course will on
The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs
Of more strong links afunder, than can ever
Appear in your impediment. For the dearth
The Gods, not the Patricians, make it; and
Your knees to them, not arms must help. Alack,
You are tranfported by calamity

Thither, where more attends you; and

you flander The helms o' th' ftate, 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 famifh, and their store-houses cramm'd with grain: make edicts for ufury, to fupport ufurers; repeal daily any wholfome act established against the rich, and provide more piercing ftatutes daily to chain up and reftrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will, and there's all the love they bear us. Men. Either you must

Confefs your felves wondrous malicious,
Or be accus'd of folly. I fhall tell you
A pretty tale; it may be you have heard it :
But fince it ferves my purpofe, I will venture

F 3

To

To

ftale't a little more.

2 Cit. Well,

4'We'll hear it, Sir, but yet you must not think To fob off our difgraces with a tale :

But, an't pleafe you, deliver.

Men. There was a time when all the body's members Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it

That only like a gulf it did remain

I' th' midft o' th' body, idle and unactive,

Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing

Like labour with the reft; where th' other inftruments
Did fee, and hear, devife, instruct, walk, feel,
And mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite, and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly answer'd

2 Cit. Well, Sir, what answer made the belly?
Men. Sir, I fhall tell you with a kind of fimile,
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 the difcontented members, the mutinous parts
That envied his receit; even fo most fitly,
As you malign our fenators, for that
They are not fuch as you -

2 Cit. Your belly's anfwer- what?
The kingly crowned head, the vigilant eye,
The counsellor heart, the arm our foldier.
Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter;
With other muniments and petty helps

In this our fabrick, if that they

Men. What then?- for me this fellow fpeaks. What then? what then?

2 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be reftrain'd, Who is the fink o' th' body

Men. Well,

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what then?

2 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly anfwer?

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Men.

4 I'll

Men. I will tell you,

If you'll bestow a fmall (of what you have little) Patience, a while; you'll hear the belly's answer. 2 Cit. Y'are long about it.

Men. Note me this, good friend; Your most grave belly was deliberate,

Not rafh, like his accufers, and thus anfwer'd;
True is it, my incorporate friends, quoth he,
That I receive the general food at first
Which you do live upon; and fit it is,
Because I am the ftore-house, and the shop
Of the whole body. But if you do remember,
I fend it through the rivers of your blood
Even to the Court the heart, to th' feat o'th' brain,
And through the cranks and offices of man;
The ftrongest nerves, and fmall inferior veins
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live. And though that all at once,
You, my good friends, (this fays the belly) mark me→→
2 Cit. Ay, Sir, well, well.

Men. Though all at once cannot
See what I do deliver out to each,

Yet I can make my audit up, that all
From me do back receive the flow'r of all,
And leave me but the bran. What fay you to't?
2 Cit. It was an answer-how apply you this?
Men. The fenators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members; for examine
Their counfels, and their cares; digeft things rightly,
Touching the weal o' th' common, you shall find
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, baseft, poorest Of this moft wife rebellion, thou goeft foremost:

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