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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' th' 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；
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the great toe of this assembly？ FIRST CITIZEN。 I the great toe？ Why the
great toe？ MENENIUS。 For that； being one o' th' lowest； basest； poorest；
Of this most wise rebellion； thou goest 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 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 nobility 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 passing cowardly。 But；
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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 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' 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； TITUS 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 nobility； 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。 Titus 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
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friends attend us。 LARTIUS。 ＇To COMINIUS＇ Lead you on。 ＇To
MARCIUS＇ Follow Cominius； we must follow you； Right worthy your
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 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 gods。 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
fashion； More than his singularity； he goes Upon this present action。
BRUTUS。 Let's along。 Exeunt
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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 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 pe