Part 37 (2/2)

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?

_Men_. For corn at their own rates; _whereof, they say, The city is well stor'd_.

_Mar_. 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 n.o.bility lay aside their ruth, And let me use my sword, _I'd make a quarry With thousands of these quartered slaves_, AS HIGH As I could _p.r.i.c.k my lance_.

[The _alt.i.tude_ of his virtue;--the _measure_ of his greatness. That is the tableau of the first scene, in the first act of the play of the cure of the Common-weal and the Consuls.h.i.+p.]

_Men_. 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?

_Mar_. They are _dissolved_: Hang 'em! [Footnote]

_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'the moon, _Shouting their emulation_.

[Footnote: 'The History of Henry VII.,' produced in the Historical Part of this work, but omitted here, contains the key to these readings.]

_Men_. What is granted them.

_Mar_. 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.

[Yes, surely it will. It cannot fail of it.]

_Men_. This is strange.

_Mar_. Go, get you _home_, you _fragments_! [_fragments_.]

[_Enter a Messenger_.]

_Mes_. Where's Caius Marcius?

_Mar_. Here; What's the matter?

_Mes_. The news is, Sir, the Volces are in arms.

_Mar_. I am glad on't; then we shall have means _to vent Our musty superfluity:_--See, our best elders.

[The procession from the Capitol is entering with two of the new officers of the commonwealth, and the two chief men of the army, with other senators.]

_First Sen_. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us; The Volsces are in arms.

_Mar_. 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.

_Com_. You have fought together.

_Mar_. Were half to half the world by the ears, and _he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make Only my wars with him_ [Hear, hear].

He is a lion.

That I am proud to _hunt_.

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