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Rome. A street.
[Enter a company of mutinous Citizens, with staves, clubs, and other
weapons]
FIRST CITIZEN
Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.
ALL
Speak, speak.
FIRST CITIZEN
You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?
ALL
Resolved. resolved.
FIRST CITIZEN
First, you know Martius Caius is chief enemy to the people.
ALL
We know it, we know it.
FIRST CITIZEN
Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is it a verdict?
ALL
No more talking on it; let it be done: away, away!
SECOND CITIZEN
One word, good citizens.
FIRST CITIZEN
We are accounted poor citizens, the patricians good. What authority surfeits
on would relieve us: if they would yield us but the superfluity, while it
were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely; but they think we
are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as
an inventory to particularise their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to
them Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes: for the gods
know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.
SECOND CITIZEN
Would you proceed especially against Martius Caius?
ALL
Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty.
SECOND CITIZEN
Consider you what services he has done for his country?
FIRST CITIZEN
Very well; and could be content to give him good report fort, but that he
pays himself with being proud.
SECOND CITIZEN
Nay, but speak not maliciously.
FIRST CITIZEN
I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though
soft-conscienced men can be content to say it was for his country he did it
to please his mother and to be partly proud; which he is, even till the
altitude of his virtue.
SECOND CITIZEN
What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him. You must in no
way say he is covetous.
FIRST CITIZEN
If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with
surplus, to tire in repetition. What shouts are these? The other side of the
city is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol!
ALL
Come, come.
FIRST CITIZEN
Soft! who comes here?
[Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA]
SECOND CITIZEN
Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people.
FIRST CITIZEN
He's one honest enough: would all the rest were so!
MENENIUS
What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you With bats and clubs? The
matter? speak, I pray you.
FIRST CITIZEN
Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling this
fortnight what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say
poor suitors have strong breaths: they shall know we have strong arms too.
MENENIUS
Why masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbors, will you undo
yourselves?
FIRST CITIZEN
,
, , 2 ,
,
We can|not sir,| we are un|done al|ready.
MENENIUS
, , ,
, ,
I tell | you friends,| most char/ita|ble care
,
, ,
, ,
Have the | patri|cians of | you for | your wants.
, 2 ,
, ,
,
Your suf|fering in | this dearth,| you may | as
well
,
x ,
, ,
Strike at | the heaven | with your | staves as |
lift them
, ,
, , ,
Against | the Ro|man state,| whose^course | will
on
,
, ,
, ,
The way | it takes:| cracking | ten* thou|sand
curbs
, T
T . T , ,
2->
Of more | strong link asun|der, than | can e||ver
, ,
, , 2
,
Appear | in your | impe|diment.| For the dearth,
, ,
, , ,
The gods,| not the | patri|cians make | it, and
, ,
, , ,
Your knees | to them |(not arms)| must help.|
Alack,
,
, ,
, ,
You are | transpor|ted by | cala|mity
, ,
, , 2
,
Thither,| where* more | attends | you, and you |
slander
,
2 , ,
, ,
->
The helms | of the state,| who care | for you |
like^fa||thers,
, T
T T ,
,
When | you curse them | as e|nemies.
FIRST CITIZEN
Care for us? True indeed, They nere cared for us yet: suffer us to famish,
and their store-houses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support
usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich, and
provide more piercing statutes 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.
MENENIUS
, ,
Either | you must (pickup)
, ,
, ,
Confess | yourselves | wondrous | mali|cious,
<- , ,
, ,
, ,
Or || be ac|cused of | folly.| I shall | tell
you
, ,
, , x
A pret|ty tale:| it may | be you | have heard it,
, ,
, ,
, 2->
But since | it serves | my pur|pose, I | will
ven||ture
x ,
,
To stale it | a lit|tle more. (picked up)
FIRST CITIZEN
,
Tx T T
, ,
Well, I'll | hear it sir: yet | you must | not
think
,
, ,
2 ,
To fob | off our | disgrace | with a tale:
,
, , ,
But and | it please | you de|liver.
(tetra with prev)
MENENIUS
, 2
, ,
, ,
There was a | time when | all the | body's |
members
, ,
, ,
x
Rebelled | against | the bel|ly; thus | accused
it:
, ,
, ,
,
That on|ly like | a gulf | it did | remain
2 ,
2 , x
, ,
In the midst | of the bo|dy, idle | and
un|active,
, ,
, , ,
->
Still cup/boarding | the vi|and, ne|ver bear||ing
, ,
2 ,
2 , ,
,
Like | labor | with the rest,| where* the o|ther
in|struments
, ,
, ,
__ __
Did see | and hear,| devise,| instruct,| walk,|
feel, (hex with prev)
, 3 3
, ,
, ,
And mu|tually parti|cipate,| did mi|nister
, 2
, , 2 ,
,
Unto the | appe|tite and af|fection | common
2 ,
, ,
, o
Of the whole | body.| The bel|ly an|swered.
FIRST CITIZEN
,
, ,
, o
Well sir,| what an|swer made | the bel|ly.
MENENIUS
,
, , ,
,
Sir, I | shall tell | you with | a kind | of
smile,
, ,
, ,
,
Which nere | came from | the lungs,| but e|ven
thus:
,
, ,
, ,
For look | you^I | may make | the bel|ly smile,
,
, , ,
,
As well | as speak,| it taun|tingly | replied
2 ,
, , ,
, ,
To the dis|conten|ted mem|bers, the | muti|nous
parts
, ,
, , ,
,
That en|vied his | receipt:| even | so
most^|fitly, (hex with prev)
,
, ,
, ,
As you | malign | our se|nators,| for that
, ,
,
They are | not such | as you.
FIRST CITIZEN
, ,
,
Your bel|ly's an|swer: What (tri with
prev)
, ,
, ,
,
The king|ly-crowned | head, the | vigi|lant eye,
, 2 ,
, T T T
The coun|sellor heart,| the arm | our soldier,
, ,
, , ,
Our steed | the leg,| the tongue | our
trum|peter,
, ,
, , ,
With o|ther mu|niments | and pet|ty helps
,
, , ,
In this | our fab|ric, if | that they--
MENENIUS
,
What then?
,
, ,
, ,
'Fore me,| this fel|low speaks.| What then?| What
then?
FIRST CITIZEN
,
, 2 ,
, ,
Should by | the cor|morant bel|ly be |
restrained,
,
, 2 ,
Who is | the sink | of the bo|dy.
MENENIUS
, ,
Well,| what then?
FIRST CITIZEN
, ,
, ,
,
The for|mer a|gents, if | they did | complain,
,
2 ,
,
What could the | belly | answer?
MENENIUS
, ,
I will | tell you,
, 2
, ,
, x
If you'll be|stow a | small (of | what you | have
little)
, 2 ,
, ,
,
Patience a|while; you'll | hear the | belly's
answer.
FIRST CITIZEN
,
x
You're long | about it.
MENENIUS
, T T
T
Note me | this good friend;
, ,
, ,
,
Your most | grave bel/ly was | deli|berate,
, ,
2 , , ,
Not rash | like his ac|cusers,| and thus |
answered:
, x
, , ,
True is it,/ my in|corpo|rate friends |(quoth^he)
, ,
, 2 ,
,
That I | receive | the gen|eral food | at first
,
, ,
, ,
Which you | do live | upon:| and fit | it is,
, ,
2 T T
T ,
Because | I am the | store-house and | the shop
2 ,
, , 2 ,
,
Of the whole | body.| But, if you | do re|member,
, ,
, ,
,
I send | it through | the ri|vers of | your blood
, 2
, , 2
, 2 ,
Even | to the court,| the heart,| to the seat |
of the brain,
,
, , ,
,
And through | the cranks | and of|fices | of man,
, ,
, , 2 ,
The strong|est nerves,| and small | infe|rior
veins
,
, , 2 ,
2 ,
From me | receive | that nat|ural com|petency
, ,
, ,
,
Whereby | they live.| And though | that all | at
once
, 2
, ,
, ,
(You my good*| friends, this | says the | belly)|
mark me.
FIRST CITIZEN
, ,
Aye sir,| well*, well.
MENENIUS
, ,
,
'Though all | at once,| cannot
,
, , ,
,
See what | I do | deli|ver out | to each,
, ,
, ,
,
Yet I | can make | my au|dit up,| that all
,
, ,
, ,
From me | do back | receive | the flour | of all,
,
, , ,
x
And leave | me but | the bran.| What say | you to
it?
FIRST CITIZEN
, ,
, ,
,
It was | an an|swer, how | apply | you this?
MENENIUS
, ,
, 2 ,
,
The se|nators | of Rome,| are this good | belly,
,
, 2 ,
, , 2->
And you | the mu|tinous mem|bers: for | exa||mine
, , 2
, T T T
->
Their coun|sels and their | cares, di|gest things
right||ly
, 2
, 2 ,
, ,
Touch|ing the weal | of the com|mon, you | shall
find
, , ,
, ,
No pub|lic be|nefit | which you | receive
,
, , ,
,
But it | proceeds,| or comes | from them | to
you,
, ,
, ,
,
And no | way* from | yourselves.| What do | you
think,
,
T T T ,
,
You, the | great toe of | this as|sembly?
FIRST CITIZEN
,
T T T ,
,
I the | great toe? Why | the great | toe?
MENENIUS
<- , 2
, 2 , ,
,
For || that being | one of the | lowest,|
basest,| poorest,
2 , ,
, 2 , ,
Of this most | wise re|bellion,| thou goest |
foremost:
, ,
, ,
,
Thou^ras|cal, that | art worst | in blood | to
run,
____ ,
, ,
Leadst | first to | win some*| vantage.
,
, , ,
,
But make | you rea|dy your / stiff bats | and
clubs:
, 2 ,
, ,
,
Rome, and her | rats, are | at the | point of |
battle,
, T
T T __ oo
The one | side must have | bale.|
[Enter MARTIUS CAIUS]
__ ,
,
Hail,| noble | Martius. \\
MARTIUS
____ ,
, 2 ,
,
Thanks.| What's the | matter | you dissen|tious
rogues,
, , ,
, 2 ,
That rub/bing the | poor itch / of your o|pinion,
,
, ,
Make your|selves scabs./
FIRST CITIZEN
, 2 ,
We have | ever your | good* word.
MARTIUS
, 2
, ,
, ,
He that will | give good*| words to | thee, will
| flatter
, , ,
2 ,
,
Beneath | abhor|ring. What | would you have,| you
curs,
, ,
, x
,
That like | nor peace,| nor war?| The one
af|frights you,
,
, , 2
, ,
The o|ther makes | you proud.| He that trusts |
to you,
,
, ,
, ,
Where he | should find | you li|ons, finds | you
hares:
, ,
, ,
,
Where fox|es, geese | you are:| no su|rer, no,
,
, ,
, ,
Than is | the coal | of fire | upon | the ice,
, ,
, , ,
Or hail|stone in | the sun.| Your vir|tue is
,
, 2 ,
, ,
To make | him wor|thy, whose of/fense sub|dues
him,
, ,
x 2
, ,
And curse | that jus|tice did it.| Who* deserves
| greatness,
, ,
, ,
,
Deserves | your hate:| and your | affect|tions
are
, ,
, , ,
, ->
A sick | man's^ap|petite,| who de/sires most ||
that
2 ,
, , 2 ,
Which | would increase | his e|vil. He | that
depends
, ,
, ,
,
Upon | your fa|vors, swims | with fins | of lead,
, ,
, ,
,
And hews | down^oaks,| with rush|es. Hang | ye:
trust ye? ????
, ,
, ,
,
With ev|ery mi|nute you | do change | a mind,
, ,
, ,
,
And call | him no|ble that | was now | your hate,
, ,
, , ,
->
Him vile | that was | your gar|land. What's | the
mat||ter,
, 2
, ,
, , 2->
That | in these sev|eral pla|ces of | the ci||ty
, ,
, ,
,
You cry | against | the no|ble se|nate, who
,
, ,
, ,
(Under | the gods)| keep you | in awe,|
which^else
,
, , ,
, 2->
Would feed | on one | ano|ther? What's | their
see||king?
MENENIUS
,
, , ,
,
For corn | at their / own rates,| whereof | they
say
,
, ,
The ci|ty is / well stored.
MARTIUS
, ,
Hang 'em:| They say?
, 2
, 2 ,
,
They'll sit | by the fire,| and presume | to know
(pickup)
,
2 , ,
, ,
What's^done | in the Ca|pitol:| who's^like | to
rise,
, ,
2 T T T
, ,
Who* thrives,| and who* de|clines: side
fac|tions, and || give^out (picked up)
, 2
, 2 ,
, ,
Conjec|tural mar|riages; ma|king par|ties strong
, ,
, , 2 ,
And fee|bling such | as stand | not in their |
liking
, ,
, ,
, ,
Below | their cob|bled shoes.| They say | there's
grain || enough? (pickup)
,
, 2 , ,
,
Would the | nobi|lity lay | aside | their ruth,
, ,
, , ,
2->
And let | me use | my sword,| I'd make | a
quar||ry
,
, , ,
,
With thou|sands of | these quar|tered slaves,| as
high
, ,
, oo
As I | could pick | my lance.|
(picked up)
MENENIUS
, 2
, ,
, ,
Nay these are | almost | thorough|ly per|suaded:
, ,
, , ,
->
For though | abun|dantly | they lack |
discre||tion,
, 2
, , 2
, 2 ,
->
Yet | are they pas|sing cow|ardly. But | I
beseech || you,
, ,
, ,
What | says the | other | troop?
MARTIUS
,
, ,
They are dissolved: hang 'em;
, ,
, ,
, ,
They said they were an-hungry; sighed forth
proverbs ????
,
, , , ,
,
That hunger broke stone walls, that dogs must
eat, ????
, ,
, 2 ,
,
That meat | was made | for mouths.| That the gods
| sent^not
, ,
, , ,
Corn for | the rich | men^on|ly: with |
these^shreds
, ,
, , 2 ,
->
They ven|ted their | complai|nings, which | being
an||swered
, 2 ,
, 2 ,
,
And | a peti|tion gran|ted them, a / strange one,
, ,
, , ,
To break | the heart | of ge|nero|sity,
2
, Tx T T
, ,
And make* bold | power look pale,| they threw |
their caps ??
, , ,
, 2 ,
As they | would hang | them on | the horns | of
the moon,
, 2
, ,
Shouting their^|emu|lation.
MENENIUS
, ,
2
What is | granted them?
MARTIUS
, , 2
, , ,
Five trib/unes* to de|fend their | vulgar |
wisdoms
, ,
, , ,
Of their / own choice.| One's Ju/nius | Brutus,
, 3 3 ,
, , ,
Sici|nius Velu|tus, and I // know not. Sdeath,
, ,
, ,
, 2->
The rab|ble should | have first | unroofed | the
ci||ty
, ,
, ,
,
Ere* so | prevailed | with me:| it will | in time
T . T Tx
. T T T
,
Win upon power | and throw forth grea|ter themes
, ,
, 2
For in|surrec|tion's ar|guing.
MENENIUS
, ,
This | is strange.
MARTIUS
T T T ,
, oo
Go get you | home you | fragments.|
[Enter a Messenger, hastily]
MESSENGER
___ ,
,
Where's | Caius | Martius?
MARTIUS
__ ,
,
Here:| what's the | matter? (tri with prev)
MESSENGER
, ,
, ,
,
The news | is sir,| the Vol|ces are | in arms.
MARTIUS
, x
, 2
, ,
I am / glad on it:| then we | shall have means |
to vent
, 2 , 33
, ,
,
Our mus|ty super|fluity. See | our best | elders.
[Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS and
SICINIUS VELUTUS]
FIRST SENATOR
,
, , 2
, ,
Martius |'tis true,| that you have | lately |
told us,
, ,
,
The Vol|ces are | in arms.
MARTIUS
, 2 ,
They have a | leader,
,
, 2 ,
, x
Tullus | Aufi|dius that | will put | you to it.
,
, 2 , ,
,
I sin | in en|vying his | nobi|lity,
, ,
, , ,
And were | I a|nything | but what | I am,
2 ,
, ,
I would wish | me on|ly he.
COMINIUS
2 ,
, 2->
You have fought | toge||ther.
MARTIUS
,
, , 2
, ,
Were half | to half | the world | by the ears,|
and he
,
, ,
, ,
Upon | my par|ty, I'd | revolt | to make
, ,
, , 2 x
Only | my wars | with him.| He is a | lion
<- ,
, ,
That || I am | proud to | hunt.
FIRST SENATOR
, ,
Then | worthy | Martius,
, ,
, 2 , ,
Attend | upon | Comin|ius to | these wars.
COMINIUS
, ,
,
It is | your for|mer pro|mise.
MARTIUS
, ,
Sir | it is,
, ,
, , 2
,
And I | am con|stant*: Ti|tus Lar|tius, thou
,
, ,
, ,
Shalt see | me once | more* strike | at Tul|lus'
face.
, ,
,
What art | thou stiff?| Standst^out?
TITUS
__ ,
,
No | Caius | Martius, (tri with prev)
, . T T
T , 2
,
I'll lean | upon one crutch,| and fight | with
the o||ther, ????
, ,
,
Ere stay | behind | this bus|iness.
MENENIUS
,
,
Oh* / true-bred.
FIRST SENATOR
, , 2
, 2 ,
,
Your com|pany | to the Ca|pitol, where | I know
, ,
,
Our grea|test friends | attend | us.
TITUS
, ,
Lead | you on:
,
, 2 ,
, ,
Follow | Comi|nius, we | must fol|low you,
, ,
, 2
Right* wor|thy you | prio|rity.
COMINIUS
x ,
Noble | Martius.
FIRST SENATOR
, 2 ,
,
Hence to your | homes, be | gone.
MARTIUS
, ,
Nay* | let them | follow:
, ,
, , , ,
The Vol|ces have much corn: take these rats
thither, ????
,
, , 2
, ,
To gnaw | their gar|ners. Wor|shipful mu|tiners,
, ,
T T T ,
Your va|lor puts | well forth: pray | follow.
[Citizens steal away. Exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS]
SICINIUS
, ,
, ,
, 2->
Was e|ver man | so proud | as is | this
Mar||tius?
BRUTUS
2 , ,
He has no | equal. (pickup)
SICINIUS
, 2
, ,
, ,
When we were | chosen | tribunes | for the |
people.
BRUTUS
,
, ,
Marked you | his lip | and eyes. (picked
up)
SICINIUS
,
,
Nay, but | his taunts. (pickup)
BRUTUS
2 ,
, , ,
,
Being moved,| he will / not spare | to gird | the
gods.
SICINIUS
,
, ,
Be-mock | the mo|dest moon. (picked up)
BRUTUS
, ,
, , ,
The pre|sent wars | devour | him, he | is grown
T T . T T T
Tx oo
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 | alrea|dy he's / well graced,| can not
,
, ,
, ,
Better | be held | nor more | attained | than by
,
, , ,
, 2->
A place | below | the first:| for what |
miscar||ries
, ,
2 , ,
,
Shall be | the gen|eral's fault,| though he |
perform
2 ,
, 2 , , ,
To the ut|most of a | man, and | giddy | censure
,
, ,
, ,
Will then | cry out | of Mar|tius: Oh,| if he
, ,
2
Had borne | the bus|iness.
SICINIUS
, ,
,
Besides,| if things | go well,
, ,
, ,
,
Opin|ion that / so sticks | on Mar|tius shall
,
, ,
, 2
Of his | deme|rits rob | Comin|ius.
BRUTUS
,
Come:
,
, 2 , , 2
,
Half all*| Comin|ius' ho|nors are to | Martius.
, ,
, ,
,
Though Mar|tius earned | them not:| and all | his
faults
,
, , ,
,
To Mar|tius shall | be ho|nors, though | indeed
, ,
,
In aught | he me|rit not.
SICINIUS
, ,
Let's hence,| and hear
, 2
, ,
, ,
How the di|spatch is | made, and | in what |
fashion,
,
, , ,
,
More than | his sing|ula|rity,| he goes
, ,
,
Upon | this pre|sent ac|tion.
BRUTUS
, ,
Let's | along.
[Exeunt]