2G8

CGRIOLANUS.

[Act I.

2 Cit. Would you proceed especially againstCaius Marcius ?

Cit. Against him first; he’s a very dog to thecommonalty.

2 Cit. Consider you what services he has donefor his country ?

1 Cit. Very well; and could be content togive him good report for’t, but that he pays him-self with being proud.

2 Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously.

1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done fa-mously, he did it to that end : though soft con-science men can be content to say, it was for hiscountry, he did it to please his mother, and tobe partly proud ; which he is, even to the alti-tude of his virtue.

2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature,you account a vice in him : You must in no waysay, he is covetous.

1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren ofaccusations ; he hath faults, with surplus, totire in repetition. VShouts withinf\ What shoutsare these ? The other side o’the city is risen :Why stay we prating here ? to the Capitol.

Cit. Come, come.

1 Cit. Soft; who comes here ?

Enter Menenius Agrippa.

2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa ; one thathath always loved the people.

1 Cit. He’s one honest enough; ’Would, allthe rest were so!

Men. What work’s, my countrymen, in hand ?Where go you

With bats and clubs ? The matter ? Speak, Ipray you.

1 Cit. Our business is not unknown to thesenate; they have had inkling, this fortnight,what we intend to do, which now we’ll show’em in deeds. They say, poor suitors have strongbreaths; they shall know, we have strong armstoo.

Men. Why, masters, my good friends, minehonest neighbours,

Will you undo yourselves ?

1 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already.

Men. I tell you, friends, most charitable careHave the patricians of you. For your w’ants,Your suffering in this dearth, you may as wellStrike at the heaven with your staves, as lift themAgainst the Roman state ; whose course will onThe way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbsOf more strong link asunder, than can everAppear in your impediment: For the dearth,The gods, not the patricians, make it ; andYour knees to them, not arms, mustlielp. Alack,You are transported by calamityThither where more attends you; and you slan-der

The helms o’the state, who care for you like fa-thers,

When you curse them as enemies.

1 Cit. Care for us!—True, indeed!—They

ne’er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, andtheir store-houses crammed with grain ; makeedicts for usury, to support usurers ; repeal dailyany wholesome act established against the rich ;and provide more piercing statutes daily, to chainup and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us notup, they will; and there’s all the love they bearus.

Men. Either you mustConfess yourselves wondrous malicious,

Or be accus’d of folly. I shall tell youA pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it ;But, since it serves my purpose, I will ventureTo scale’t a little more.

1 Cit. Well, I’ll hear it, sir: yet you mustnot think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but,an’t please you, deliver.

Men. There was a time, when all the body’smembers

Rebell’d against the belly; thus accus’d it:—That only likfea gulf it did remainI’the midst o’uie body, idle and inactive,

Still cupboarding the viand, never bearingLike labour with the rest ; where the other in-struments

Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,And, mutually participate, did ministerUnto the appetite and affection commonOf the whole body. The belly answer’d,—

1 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly ?Men. Sir, I shall tell you.—With a kind ofsmile,

Which ne’er came from the lungs, but even thus,(For, look you, I may make the belly smile,

As well as speak,) it tauntingly repliedTo the discontented members, themutinous partsThat envied his receipt; even so most fitlyAs you malign our senators, for thatThey are not such as you.

I Cit. Your belly’s answer: What!

The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye.

The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,

Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter,With other muniments and petty helps

In this our fabric, if that they-

Men. What then ?—

’Fore me, this fellow speaks !—what then ? whatthen ?

1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be re-strain’d,

Who is the sink o’the body,-

Men. W r ell, 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 rash like his accusers, and thus answer’d.True is it, my incorporate friends, quoth he,That I receive the general food at first ,