The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 71

But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs.

Rome and her rats are at the point of battle; The one side must have bale.

Enter CAIUS MARCIUS

Hail, n.o.ble Marcius!

MARCIUS. Thanks. What's the matter, you dissentious rogues That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs?

FIRST CITIZEN. We have ever your good word.

MARCIUS. He that will give good words to thee will flatter Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace nor war? The one affrights you, The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you, Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; Where foxes, geese; you are no surer, no, Than is the coal of fire upon the ice Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is To make him worthy whose offence subdues him, And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness Deserves your hate; and your affections are A sick man's appet.i.te, who desires most that Which would increase his evil. He that depends Upon your favours swims with fins of lead, And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye?

With every minute you do change a mind And call him n.o.ble that was now your hate, Him vile that was your garland. What's the matter That in these several places of the city You cry against the n.o.ble Senate, who, Under the G.o.ds, keep you in awe, which else Would feed on one another? What's their seeking?

MENENIUS. For corn at their own rates, whereof they say The city is well stor'd.

MARCIUS. Hang 'em! They say!

They'll sit by th' fire and presume to know What's done i' th' Capitol, who's like to rise, Who thrives and who declines; side factions, and give out Conjectural marriages, making parties strong, And feebling such as stand not in their liking Below their cobbled shoes. They say there's grain enough!

Would the n.o.bility lay aside their ruth And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high As I could pick my lance.

MENENIUS. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded; For though abundantly they lack discretion, Yet are they pa.s.sing cowardly. But, I beseech you, What says the other troop?

MARCIUS. They are dissolv'd. Hang 'em!

They said they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs- That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must eat, That meat was made for mouths, that the G.o.ds sent not Corn for the rich men only. With these shreds They vented their complainings; which being answer'd, And a pet.i.tion granted them- a strange one, To break the heart of generosity And make bold power look pale- they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o' th' moon, Shouting their emulation.

MENENIUS. What is granted them?

MARCIUS. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wisdoms, Of their own choice. One's Junius Brutus- Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. 'Sdeath!

The rabble should have first unroof'd the city Ere so prevail'd with me; it will in time Win upon power and throw forth greater themes For insurrection's arguing.

MENENIUS. This is strange.

MARCIUS. Go get you home, you fragments.

Enter a MESSENGER, hastily

MESSENGER. Where's Caius Marcius?

MARCIUS. Here. What's the matter?

MESSENGER. The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.

MARCIUS. I am glad on't; then we shall ha' means to vent Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders.

Enter COMINIUS, t.i.tUS LARTIUS, with other SENATORS; JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS

FIRST SENATOR. Marcius, 'tis true that you have lately told us: The Volsces are in arms.

MARCIUS. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.

I sin in envying his n.o.bility; And were I anything but what I am, I would wish me only he.

COMINIUS. You have fought together?

MARCIUS. Were half to half the world by th' ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make Only my wars with him. He is a lion That I am proud to hunt.

FIRST SENATOR. Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

COMINIUS. It is your former promise.

MARCIUS. Sir, it is; And I am constant. t.i.tus Lartius, thou Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face.

What, art thou stiff? Stand'st out?

LARTIUS. No, Caius Marcius; I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other Ere stay behind this business.

MENENIUS. O, true bred!

FIRST SENATOR. Your company to th' Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us.

LARTIUS. [To COMINIUS] Lead you on.

[To MARCIUS] Follow Cominius; we must follow you; Right worthy you priority.

COMINIUS. n.o.ble Marcius!

FIRST SENATOR. [To the Citizens] Hence to your homes; be gone.

MARCIUS. Nay, let them follow.

The Volsces have much corn: take these rats thither To gnaw their garners. Wors.h.i.+pful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth; pray follow.

Ciitzens steal away. Exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS SICINIUS. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius?

BRUTUS. He has no equal.

SICINIUS. When we were chosen tribunes for the people- BRUTUS. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

SICINIUS. Nay, but his taunts!

BRUTUS. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the G.o.ds.

SICINIUS. Bemock the modest moon.

BRUTUS. The present wars devour him! He is grown Too proud to be so valiant.

SICINIUS. Such a nature, Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Which he treads on at noon. But I do wonder His insolence can brook to be commanded Under Cominius.

BRUTUS. 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 first; for what miscarries Shall be the general's fault, though he perform To th' utmost of a man, and giddy censure Will then cry out of Marcius 'O, if he Had borne the business!'

SICINIUS. Besides, if things go well, Opinion, that so sticks on Marcius, shall Of his demerits rob Cominius.

BRUTUS. Come.

Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius, Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults To Marcius shall be honours, though indeed In aught he merit not.

SICINIUS. Let's hence and hear How the dispatch is made, and in what fas.h.i.+on, More than his singularity, he goes Upon this present action.

BRUTUS. Let's along. Exeunt

SCENE II.

Corioli. The Senate House.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS with SENATORS of Corioli

FIRST SENATOR. So, your opinion is, Aufidius, That they of Rome are ent'red in our counsels And know how we proceed.

AUFIDIUS. Is it not yours?

What ever have been thought on in this state That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome Had circ.u.mvention? 'Tis not four days gone Since I heard thence; these are the words- I think I have the letter here;.yes, here it is: [Reads] 'They have press'd a power, but it is not known Whether for east or west. The dearth is great; The people mutinous; and it is rumour'd, Cominius, Marcius your old enemy, Who is of Rome worse hated than of you, And t.i.tus Lartius, a most valiant Roman, These three lead on this preparation Whither 'tis bent. Most likely 'tis for you; Consider of it.'

FIRST SENATOR. Our army's in the field; We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready To answer us.

AUFIDIUS. Nor did you think it folly To keep your great pretences veil'd till when They needs must show themselves; which in the hatching, It seem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery We shall be short'ned in our aim, which was To take in many towns ere almost Rome Should know we were afoot.

SECOND SENATOR. n.o.ble Aufidius, Take your commission; hie you to your bands; Let us alone to guard Corioli.

If they set down before's, for the remove Bring up your army; but I think you'll find Th' have not prepar'd for us.

AUFIDIUS. O, doubt not that!

I speak from certainties. Nay more, Some parcels of their power are forth already, And only hitherward. I leave your honours.

If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet, 'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike Till one can do no more.

ALL. The G.o.ds a.s.sist you!

AUFIDIUS. And keep your honours safe!

FIRST SENATOR. Farewell.

SECOND SENATOR. Farewell.

ALL. Farewell. Exeunt

SCENE III.

Rome. MARCIUS' house

Enter VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA, mother and wife to MARCIUS; they set them down on two low stools and sew

VOLUMNIA. I pray you, daughter, sing, or express yourself in a more comfortable sort. If my son were my husband, I should freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love. When yet he was but tender-bodied, and the only son of my womb; when youth with comeliness pluck'd all gaze his way; when, for a day of kings' entreaties, a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding; I, considering how honour would become such a person- that it was no better than picture-like to hang by th' wall, if renown made it not stir- was pleas'd to let him seek danger where he was to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him, from whence he return'd his brows bound with oak. I tell thee, daughter, I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man.

VIRGILIA. But had he died in the business, madam, how then?

VOLUMNIA. Then his good report should have been my son; I therein would have found issue. Hear me profess sincerely: had I a dozen sons, each in my love alike, and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius, I had rather had eleven die n.o.bly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.