CORIOLANUS. ACT I. SCENE I Enter a Company of Mutinous Citizens, with Staves, Clubs, and other Weapons: B I CITIZEN. EFORE we proceed any further, hear me fpeak. All. Speak, fpeak. I Cit. You are all refolv'd rather to die than to famish? All. Refolv'd, refolv'd. 1 Cit. First, you know, Caius Martius is chief Enemy to the People. All. We know't. i 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. 2 Cit. One word, good Citizens. i 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 wholsome, we might guess they relieved us humanly: But they think we are too dear; the leannels that-afflicts us, the object of our Mifery, is as an Inventory to particularize their Abundance; VOL IV. Bb a our our fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our Pikes, e'er we become Rakes: For the Gods know, I fpeak this in hunger for Bread, not in thirst for Revenge. 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Mar tius ? : All Againft him first He's a very Dog to the Commonalty. 2 Cit. Confider you what Services 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. All. Nay, but fpeak 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 please his Mother, and to be partly 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 muft in no way fay, he is Covetous. 1 Cit. If I muft not, I need not be barren of Accufations; he hath Faults, with furplus, to tire in Repetition. [Shouts within. What Shouts are thofe? The other fide o'th City is rifen, why ftay we prating here? To th' Capitol All. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft. who comes here? 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 reft were fo. Men. What work's, my Countrymen, in hand? Where go you with your Bats and Clubs? The MatterSpeak, I pray you. 2 Cit. Our Bufinefs is not unknown to the Senate, they have had inkling, this Fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll fhew 'em in Deeds: They fay, poor Suiters have ftrong Breaths, they fhall know we have ftrong Arms too. Men. Why Maflers, my good Friends, mine honeft Neighbours, will you undo your felves? 2 Cit. We cannot, Sir, we are undone already. Thither, where more attends you; and you flander 2 Cit. Care for us!----True indeed, they ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famifh, and their Store-houfes cramm'd with Grain: Make Edicts for Ufury, to fupport Ufurers; repeal daily any wholfom A& established against the Rich, and provide more piercing Statutes daily, to chain up and reftrain 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 your felves wond'rous malicious, 2 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, Sir-yet you must not think But, and't please you, deliver. Men. There was a time when all the Bodies Members Rebell'd against the Belly; thus accus'd it That only like a Gulf it did remain Ith' midft o'th' Body, idle and unactive, Still cubbording the Viand, never bearing Like labour with the reft: where th' other Inftruments Bb 3 Of Of the whole Body. The Belly anfwer'd. 2 Cit. Well, Sir, what anfwer made the Belly? To the defcontented Members, the mutinous Parts 2 Cit. Your Belly's anfwer-What The Kingly crown'd Head, the vigilant Eye, In this our Fabrick, if that they Men. What then?-For me this Fellow fpeaks. What then? what then? 2 Cit. Should by the Cormorant Belly be restrain❜d, Who is the fink o'th' Body 2 Cit. The former Agents, if they did complain, What could the Belly answer? Men. I will tell you, If you'll beftow a fmall (of what you have little) Patience, a while; you'ft hear the Belly's answer, 2 Cit. Y'are long about it. Men. Note me this, good Friend; Not rafh, like his Accufers, and thus anfwer'd; You You, my good Friends, (this fays the Belly) mark me 2 Cit. Ay, Sir, well, well. Men. Though all at once, cannot See, what I do deliver out to each, Yet I can make my Audit up, that all But it proceeds or comes from them to you, 2 Cit. I the great Toe! Why the great Toe? But make you ready your ftiff Bats and Clubs, Enter Caius Martius. Hail, Noble Martius. Mar. Thanks. What's the Matter, you diffentious Rogues? That rubbing the poor itch of your Opinion, Make your felves Scabs.) 2 Cit, We have ever your good Word. Mar. He that will give good Words to thee, will flatter Beneath abhorring. What would you have, ye Curs, That like not Peace, nor War? The one affrights you, The other makes you proud. He that trufts to you, Where he should find you Lions, finds you Where Foxes, Geefe you are: No furer, no, Than is the coal of Fire upon the Ice, Hares: Or Hailstone in the Sun. Your Virtue is, |