CORIOLANUS.

ACT I. SCENE I.

A Street in Rome.

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

1 Cit. BEFORE

we proceed any further, hear me speak.

All. Speak, fpeak.

1 Cit. You are refolv'd rather to die, than to famish? All. Refolv'd, resolv'd.

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

All. We know't, 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 it be done: away,

away.

1

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 wholefome, we might guefs, they relieved us humanely:

a

good:-opulent; good men in the mercantile fenfe.

"Anthonio is a good man."

MERCH. OF VENICE, A&t I. S. 3. Shy.
B 2

but

but they think, we are too dear; the leannefs that afflicts us, the object of our mifery, is as an inventory to -particularize their abundance; our fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes for the gods know, I fpeak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

с

2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

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.

2 Cit. Nay, but speak 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 fay, it was for his country, he did it to pleafe his mother partly, and partly to be proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: You must in no way 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 these? The other fide o'the city is rifen: Why ftay we prating here? To the Capitol.

All. Come, come.

1 Cit. Soft; who comes here?

b we are too dear:]-not worth our maintenance.

with our pikes, ere we become rakes:]-a quibble; military weapons, emaciated debauchees, and inftruments of husbandry being fo called."As lean as a rake." Proverb.

Enter

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!

Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? Where

go you

With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray you.

d

1 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 in deeds. They fay, poor fuitors have strong breaths; they shall know we have strong arms too.

Men. Why, mafters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours,

Will you undo yourselves?

1 Cit. We cannot, fir, we are undone already.
Men. I tell you, friends, moft charitable care
Have the patricians of you. For your wants,
Your fuffering in this dearth, you may as well
Strike at the heavens with your staves, as lift them
Against the Roman ftate; whofe course will on
The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs
Of more strong link 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, muft help. Alack,
You are transported by calamity

Thither where more attends you; and you flander
The helms o'the ftate, who care for you like fathers,
When

you curse them as enemies.

* they have had inkling,]—an intimation, a hint, have been apprised.

1 Cit. Care for us!-True, indeed!-They ne'er car'd for us yet. Suffer us to famifh, and their ftore-houses cramm'd with grain; make edicts for ufury, to support ufurers repeal daily any wholefome act established against the rich; and provide more piercing ftatutes daily, to chain up and restrain 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 yourselves wondrous malicious,
Or be accus'd of folly. I fhall tell you
A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it;

с

But, fince it ferves my purpofe, I will venture

To fcale't a little more.

1 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, fir: yet you must not think f to fob off our difgrace with a tale: but, an't please 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' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive,

Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing

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

1 Cit. Well, fir, what anfwer made the belly?
Men. Sir, I fhall tell you. With a kind of fmile,

To feale't a little more.]-To fpread or difperfe it further; to ftale't to make it fomewhat ftaler by repeating it.

f to fob off our difgrace]-to appease us, to ftifle our refentment; that our wrongs are to be repaired.

where]-whereas. HENRY VI. P. II. A. III. S. 2. Suff.

Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus
(For, look you, I may make the belly fimile,
As well as fpeak) it tauntingly reply'd

To the difcontented members, the mutinous parts
That envy'd his receipt; even fo most fitly
As you malign our fenators, for that

They are not fuch as you.

1 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?

'Fore me, this fellow speaks !-what then? what then? 1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, Who is the fink o' the body

Men. Well, what then?

1 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer?

Men. I will tell you;

If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little)
Patience, awhile, you'll hear the belly's answer.
1 Cit. You are long about it.

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

Not rafh like his accufers, 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 ftore-boufe, and the fop

Which ne'er came from the lungs,]-Not the effect of pleafure, but contempt. i even jo moft fitly]-juft fo exactly. muniments]-props.,