Patience awhile, you’ll hear the belly’s answer.
First Citizen
Ye’re long about it.
Menenius
Note me this, good friend;
Your most grave belly was deliberate,
Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer’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 store-house and the shop
Of the whole body: but, if you do remember,
I send it through the rivers of your blood,
Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o’ the brain;
And, through the cranks and offices of man,
The strongest nerves and small inferior veins
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live: and though that all at once,
You, my good friends,’— this says the belly, mark me,—
First Citizen
Ay, sir; well, well.
Menenius
‘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 flour of all,
And leave me but the bran.’ What say you to’t?
First Citizen
It was an answer: how apply you this?
Menenius
The senators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members; for examine
Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly
Touching the weal o’ the common, you shall find
No public benefit which you receive
But it proceeds or comes from them to you
And no way from yourselves. What do you think,
You, the great toe of this assembly?
First Citizen
I the great toe! why the great toe?
Menenius
For that, being one o’ the lowest, basest, poorest,
Of this most wise rebellion, thou go’st foremost:
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead’st first to win some vantage.
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, noble 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 appetite, 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 noble 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 noble senate, who,
Under the gods, 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 stored.
Marcius
Hang ’em! They say!
They’ll sit by the fire, and presume to know
What’s done i’ the 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 nobility lay aside their ruth,
And let me use my sword, I’ll 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 passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What says the other troop?
Marcius
They are dissolved: 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 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 generosity,
And make bold power look pale — they threw their caps
As they would hang them on the horns o’ the 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, Titus Lartius, and 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 nobility,
And were I any thing but what I am,
I would wish me only he.
Cominius
You have fought together.
Marcius
Were half to half the world by the ears and he.
Upon my party, I’ld 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. Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus’ face.
What, art thou stiff? stand’st out?
Titus
No, Caius Marcius;
I’ll lean upon one crutch and fight with t’other,
Menenius
O, true-bred!
First Senator
Your company to the Capitol; where, I know,
Our greatest friends attend us.
Titus
[To Cominius] Lead you on.
To Marcius
Right worthy you priority.
Cominius
Noble 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. Worshipful mutiners,
Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow.
Citizens 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 moved, he will not spare to gird the gods.
Sicinius
Be-mock 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’s well graced, can not
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 the 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 earned 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 fashion,
More than his singularity, he goes
Upon this present action.
Brutus
Lets along.
Exeunt
SCENE II. CORIOLI. THE SENATE-HOUSE.
Enter Tullus Aufidius and certain Senators
First Senator
So, your opinion is, Aufidius,
That they of Rome are entered 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 circumvention? ’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 Titus 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 shorten’d in our aim, which was
To take in many towns ere almost Rome
Should know we were afoot.
Second Senator
Noble 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 your army; but, I think, you’ll find
They’ve not prepared 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 gods assist you!
Aufidius
And keep your honours safe!
First Senator
Farewell.
Second Senator
Farewell.
All
Farewell.
Exeunt
SCENE III. ROME. A ROOM IN MARCIUS’ HOUSE.
Enter Volumnia and Virgilia 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 plucked 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 the wall, if renown made it not stir, was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him; from whence he returned, 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 nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action.
Enter a Gentlewoman
Gentlewoman
Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to visit you.
Virgilia
Beseech you, give me leave to retire myself.
Volumnia
Indeed, you shall not.
Methinks I hear hither your husband’s drum,
See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair,
As children from a bear, the Volsces shunning him:
Methinks I see him stamp thus, and call thus:
‘Come on, you cowards! you were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome:’ his bloody brow
With his mail’d hand then wiping, forth he goes,
Like to a harvest-man that’s task’d to mow
Or all or lose his hire.
Virgilia
His bloody brow! O Jupiter, no blood!
Volumnia
Away, you fool! it more becomes a man
Than gilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecuba,
When she did suckle Hector, look’d not lovelier
Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood
At Grecian sword, contemning. Tell Valeria,
&nbs
p; We are fit to bid her welcome.
Exit Gentlewoman
Virgilia
Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius!
Volumnia
He’ll beat Aufidius’ head below his knee
And tread upon his neck.
Enter Valeria, with an Usher and Gentlewoman
Valeria
My ladies both, good day to you.
Volumnia
Sweet madam.
Virgilia
I am glad to see your ladyship.
Valeria
How do you both? you are manifest house-keepers. What are you sewing here? A fine spot, in good faith. How does your little son?
Virgilia
I thank your ladyship; well, good madam.
Volumnia
He had rather see the swords, and hear a drum, than look upon his school-master.
Valeria
O’ my word, the father’s son: I’ll swear,’tis a very pretty boy. O’ my troth, I looked upon him o’ Wednesday half an hour together: has such a confirmed countenance. I saw him run after a gilded butterfly: and when he caught it, he let it go again; and after it again; and over and over he comes, and again; catched it again; or whether his fall enraged him, or how ’twas, he did so set his teeth and tear it; O, I warrant it, how he mammocked it!
Volumnia
One on ’s father’s moods.
Valeria
Indeed, la, ’tis a noble child.
Virgilia
A crack, madam.
Valeria
Come, lay aside your stitchery; I must have you play the idle husewife with me this afternoon.
Virgilia
No, good madam; I will not out of doors.
Valeria
Not out of doors!
Volumnia
She shall, she shall.
Virgilia
Indeed, no, by your patience; I’ll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars.
Valeria
Fie, you confine yourself most unreasonably: come, you must go visit the good lady that lies in.
Virgilia
I will wish her speedy strength, and visit her with my prayers; but I cannot go thither.
Volumnia
Why, I pray you?
Virgilia
’Tis not to save labour, nor that I want love.
Valeria
You would be another Penelope: yet, they say, all the yarn she spun in Ulysses’ absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. Come; I would your cambric were sensible as your finger, that you might leave pricking it for pity. Come, you shall go with us.
Virgilia
No, good madam, pardon me; indeed, I will not forth.
Valeria
In truth, la, go with me; and I’ll tell you excellent news of your husband.
Virgilia
O, good madam, there can be none yet.
Valeria
Verily, I do not jest with you; there came news from him last night.
Virgilia
Indeed, madam?
Valeria
In earnest, it’s true; I heard a senator speak it. Thus it is: the Volsces have an army forth; against whom Cominius the general is gone, with one part of our Roman power: your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioli; they nothing doubt prevailing and to make it brief wars. This is true, on mine honour; and so, I pray, go with us.
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