To make him worthy, whofe offence fubdues him, And curse that juftice, did it. Who deferves Greatnefs,

Deferves your Hate; and your affections are
A fick man's appetite, who defires most That
Which would increase his evil. He, that depends
Upon your favours, fwims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rufhes. Hang ye trust ye!
With every minute you do change a mind,
And call him noble, that was now your hate;

Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter,
That in the several places of the City

You cry against the noble Senate, who
(Under the Gods) keep you in awe, which elfe
Would feed on one another? what's their Seeking?

Men. For corn at their own rates, whereof, they fay, The City is well ftor'd.

Mar. Hang 'em they fay!

They'll fit by th' fire, and prefume to know
What's done i'th' Capitol; who's like to rife;
Who thrives, and who declines: fide factions, and give

out

Conjectural marriages; making parties ftrong,
And feebling Such, as ftand not in their Liking,
Below their cobbled fhooes. They fay, there's Grain
enough!

Would the Nobility lay afide their ruth,
And let me ufe my fword, I'd make a quarry
With thousands of thefe quarter'd Slaves, as high
As I could pitch my lance.

Men. Nay, thefe are almost thoroughly perfuaded:
For though abundantly they lack difcretion,
Yet are they paffing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What fays the other troop?

Mar. They are diffolv'd; hang 'em,

They faid they were an hungry, figh'd forth Proverbs;
That hunger broke ftone walls-that dogs muft eat,-
That meat was made for mouths—that the Gods fent not
Corn for the rich men only With thefe fhreds
They vented their complainings: which being answer'd,

And

And a Petition granted them, a strange one,

To break the heart of Generofity,

And make bold Power look pale; they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o'th' Moon, Shouting their emulation.

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-s'death, The rabble should have firft unroof'd the City, Ere fo prevail'd with me! it will in time Win upon Power, and throw forth greater themes For Infurrection's arguing..

Men. This is ftrange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar. Here what's the matter?

Mef. The news is, Sir, the Volfcians are in arms. Mar. I'm glad on't, then we shall have means to vent Our musty fuperfluity. See, our beft Elders!

Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators.

I Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us, The Volfcians are in arms.

Mar. They have a Leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.
I fin in envying his Nobility:

And were I any thing but what I am,
I'd with me only he.

Com. You have fought together?

Mar. Were half to half the world by th' ears, and he Upon my Party, I'd revolt, to make Only my wars with him. He is a lion, That I am proud to hunt.

I Sen. Then worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. Gom. It is your former promife.

Mar.

Mar. Sir, it is;

And I am conftant: Titus Lartius, thou

Shalt fee me once more ftrike at Tullus' face.
What, art thou ftiff? ftand'st out?

Tit. No, Caius Marcius,

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with t'other;
Ere ftay behind this business.

Men. O true bred!

1 Sen. Your company to th' Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest Friends attend us.

Tit. Lead you on;

Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you Priority.
Com. Noble Lartius!

1 Sen. Hence to your homes

be gone.

[To the Citizens.

Mar. Nay, let them follow; The Volfcians have much Corn: take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners. Worshipful Mutineers, Your valour puts well forth; pray, follow.

[Exeunt. [Citizens fteal away. Manent Sicinius and Brutus. Sic. Was ever man fo proud, as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chofen Tribunes for the People-
Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?
Sic. Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the
Gods

Sic. Be-mock the modeft Moon,

Bru. (4) The prefent Wars devour him; he is grown Too proud to be so valiant.

(4) The prefent Wars devour him; he is grown

Too proud to be fo valiant.] This is very obfcurely exprefs'd; but the Poet's Meaning muft certainly be This. Marcius is fo confcious of, and fo elate upon, the Notion of his own Valour, that he is eaten up with Pride; devour'd with the Apprehenfions of That Glory which he promises himself from the enfueing War. A Sentiment, like This, occurs again in Troilus and Creffida.

He, that is proud, eats up himself. Pride is his own Glass, his own Trumpet, his own Chronicle; and whatever praises itself but in the Deed, devours the Deed in the Praife.

Sic. Such a nature,

Tickled with good fuccefs, difdains the fhadow
Which he treads on at noon; but I do wonder,
His infolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius.

Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,
In whom already he is well grac'd, cannot
Better be held, nor more attain'd, than by
A Place below the firft; for what miscarries
Shall be the General's fault, tho' he perform
To the utmost of a man; and giddy cenfure
Will then cry out of Marcius: oh, if he
Had borne the business-

Sic. Befides, if things go well,

Opinion, that fo fticks on Marcius, fhall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.

Bru. Come,

Half all Cominius' Honours are to Marcius,
Though Marcius earn'd them not; and all his faults
To Marcius fhall be honours, though, indeed,
In ought he merit not.

Sic. Let's hence, and hear

How the dispatch is made; and in what fashion,
More than his fingularity, he goes
Upon this present action.
Bru. Let's along.

SCENE changes to Corioli.

Enter Tullus Aufidius, with Senators of Corioli.

1 Sen. O, your opinion is, Aufidius,

[Exeunt.

That they of Rome are entred in our Counfels,

And know how we proceed.

Auf. Is it not yours?

What ever hath been thought on in this State,
That could be brought to bodily act, ere Rome
Had circumvention? 'tis not four days gone,
Since I heard thence these are the words I think,

think?

I have the letter here; yes-here it is;
"They have preft a Power, but it is not known
[Reading.

"Whether for Eaft or Weft; the Dearth is great,
"The People mutinous; and it is rumour'd,
"Cominius, Marcius your old enemy,
"(Who is of Rome worse hated than of you)
"And Titus Lartius, a most valiant Roman,
"These three lead on this preparation
"Whither 'tis bent-moft likely, 'tis for you:
"Confider of it.

I Sen. Our Army's in the Field :

We never yet made doubt, but Rome was ready
To answer us.

Auf. Nor did you think it folly

To keep your great pretences veil'd, 'till when
They needs muft fhew themselves; which in the hatch-

ing,

It feem'd, appear'd to Rome. By the discovery,
We fhall be fhortned in our aim, which was
To take in many Towns, ere (almoft) Rome
Should know we were a-foot.

2 Sen. Noble Aufidius,

Take your Commiffion, hie you to your bands;
Let us alone to guard Corioli;

If they fet down before's, for the Remove
Bring up your Army: but, I think, you'll find,
They've not prepar'd for us.

Auf. O, doubt not That,

I fpeak from certainties. Nay more,

Some parcels of their Power are forth already,
And only hitherward. I leave your Honours.
If We and Caius Marcius chance to meet,
'Tis fworn between us, we fhall ever ftrike
'Till one can do no more,

All. The Gods affift you!

Auf. And keep your Honours fafe!

I Sen. Farewel.

2 Sen. Farewel.

All. Farewel.

[Exeunt. SCENE