end o' the table: no question asked him by any of the senators but they stand bald before him. Our general himself makes a mistress of him; sanctifies himself with's hand, and turns up the white o' the eye to his discourse. But the bottom of the news is, our general is cut i' the middle, and but one half of what he was yesterday: for the other has half, by the entreaty and grant of the whole table. He'll go, he says, and sowle the porter of Rome gates by the ears: he will mow down all before him, and leave his passage polled. SCENE VI. Rome. A public Place. Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS. Sic. We hear not of him, neither need we fear him : His remedies are tame i' the present peace 2nd Serv. And he's as like to do 't as any man Our tradesmen singing in their shops, and going I can imagine. About their functions friendly. 3rd Serv. Do 't? he will do 't. For look you, sir, he has as many friends as enemies: which friends, sir (as it were), durst not (look you, sir), shew themselves (as we term it) his friends whilst he's in directitude. 1st Serv. Directitude! what's that? 3rd Serv. But when they shall see, sir, his crest up again, and the man in blood, they will out of their burrowes like conies after rain, and revel all with him. 1st Serv. But when goes this forward? 3rd Serv. To-morrow: to-day: presently. You shall have the drum struck up this afternoon : 't is, as it were, a parcel of their feast, and to be executed ere they wipe their lips. 2nd Serv. Why, then we shall have a stirring world again. This peace is nothing but to rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad-makers. 1st Serv. Let me have war, say I: it exceeds peace as far as day does night: it's sprightly, waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible; a getter of more bastard children than wars a destroyer of men. 2nd Serv. 'Tis so: and as wars, in some sort, may be said to be a ravisher, so it cannot be denied but peace is a great maker of cuckolds. 1st Serv. Ay, and it makes men hate one another. 3rd Serv. Reason; because they then less need one another. The wars for my money: I hope to see Romans as cheap as Volcians. They are rising, they are rising. All. In, in, in, in! [Exeunt. [Exeunt Citizens. Sic. This is a happier and more comely time Bru. The gods have well prevented it, and Joined with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome, Bru. Go see this rumorer whipped. It can- What lay before them. Mess. The nobles, in great earnestness, are If Marcius should be joined with Volcians, The second name of men, obeys his points Men. Enter a troop of Citizens. Here come the clusters. - Which will not prove a whip: as many coxcombs Cit. 'Faith, we hear fearful news. When I said "Banish him," I said 't was pity. 2nd Cit. And so did I. 3rd Cit. And so did I: and, to say the truth, so did very many of us. That we did, we did for the best and though we willingly consented to his banishment, yet it was against our will. Com. You are goodly things, you voices! Men. You have made Should say, "Be good to Rome," they charged Good work, you and your cry!-Shall us to the Lieu. I do not know what witchcraft's in him: The senators and patricians love him too: sure, The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people To expel him thence. I think he'll be to As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it Even with the same austerity and garb Auf. I understand thee well: and be thou (As he hath spices of them all, not all, For I dare so far free him) made him feared; When he shall come to his account, he knows So hated, and so banished. But he has a merit To choke it in the utterance. So our virtues not What I can urge against him. Although it Lie in the interpretation of the time: In this so never-heeded help, yet do not Upbraid us with our distress. But sure, if you Men. No, I'll not go: you hear what he hath Would be your country's pleader, your good Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name. He would not answer to: forbad all names: Men. Why. so; you have made good work: A pair of tribunes that have racked for Rome, To make coals cheap. A noble memory! Com. I minded him how royal 't was to pardon When it was less expected: he replied, It was a base petition of a state To one whom they had punished. Men. Bru. Only make trial what your love can do For Rome, towards Marcius. Men. Well, and say that Marcius But as a discontented friend, grief-shot Must have that thanks from Rome after the meas I think he'll hear me yet.to bite his lip To give or to forgive but when we have stuffed Till he be dieted to my request, Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, And cannot lose your way. Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge Of my success. [Exit. |