The arden shakespeare co.., p.86
The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works, page 86
you, deliver.
MENENIUS
There was a time, when all the body’s members
95
Rebell’d against the belly; thus accus’d it:
That only like a gulf it did remain
I’th’ midst o’th’ body, idle and unactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing
Like labour with the rest, where th’other instruments
100
Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,
And, mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly answer’d –
1 CITIZEN Well, sir, what answer made the belly?
105
MENENIUS Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile,
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 replied
To th’ discontented members, the mutinous parts
110
That envied his receipt; even so most fitly,
As you malign our senators, for that
They are not such as you.
1 CITIZEN Your belly’s answer – what?
The kingly crown’d head, the vigilant eye,
The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,
115
Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter,
With other muniments and petty helps
In this our fabric, if that they –
MENENIUS What then?
’Fore me, this fellow speaks! What then? What then?
1 CITIZEN Should by the cormorant belly be restrain’d,
120
Who is the sink o’th’ body –
MENENIUS Well, what then?
1 CITIZEN The former agents, if they did complain,
What could the belly answer?
MENENIUS I will tell you,
If you’ll bestow a small (of what you have little)
Patience awhile, you’st hear the belly’s answer.
125
1 CITIZEN Y’are long about it.
MENENIUS 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
130
Which you do live upon; and fit it is,
Because I am the store-house and the shop
Of the whole body. But, if you do remember,
I send it through the rivers of your blood
Even to the court, the heart, to th’ seat o’th’ brain;
135
And through the cranks and offices of man,
The strongest nerves and small inferior veins
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live. And though that all at once,
You, my good friends,’ – this says the belly, mark
me –
140
1 CITIZEN Ay, sir; well, well.
MENENIUS ‘Though all at once cannot
See what I do deliver out to each,
Yet I can make my audit up, that all
From me do back receive the flour of all,
And leave me but the bran.’ What say you to’t?
145
1 CITIZEN It was an answer. How apply you this?
MENENIUS The senators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members: for examine
Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly
Touching the weal o’th’ common, you shall find
150
No public benefit which you receive
But it proceeds or comes from them to you,
And no way from yourselves. What do you think,
You, the great toe of this assembly?
1 CITIZEN I the great toe? Why the great toe?
155
MENENIUS
For that being one o’th’ lowest, basest, poorest
Of this most wise rebellion, thou goest foremost:
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead’st first to win some vantage.
But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs;
160
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle;
The one side must have bale.
Enter CAIUS MARTIUS.
Hail, noble Martius.
MARTIUS
Thanks. What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues
That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?
1 CITIZEN We have ever your good word.
165
MARTIUS
He that will give good words to thee, will flatter
Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,
That like nor peace nor war? The one affrights you,
The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
170
Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,
Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is,
To make him worthy whose offence subdues him,
And curse that justice did it. Who deserves
greatness,
175
Deserves your hate; and your affections are
A sick man’s appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours, swims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye?
180
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 these several places of the city,
You cry against the noble Senate, who
185
(Under the gods) keep you in awe, which else
Would feed on one another? What’s their seeking?
MENENIUS
For corn at their own rates, whereof they say
The city is well stor’d.
MARTIUS Hang ’em! They say!
They’ll sit by th’ fire, and presume to know
190
What’s done i’th’ Capitol: who’s like to rise,
Who thrives, and who declines; side factions, and
give out
Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling such as stand not in their liking
Below their cobbled shoes. They say there’s grain
enough?
195
Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,
And let me use my sword, I’d make a quarry
With thousands of these quarter’d slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.
MENENIUS
Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded;
200
For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But I beseech you,
What says the other troop?
MARTIUS They are dissolv’d. Hang ’em!
They said they were an-hungry, sigh’d forth
proverbs –
That hunger broke stone walls; that dogs must eat;
205
That meat was made for mouths; that the gods sent
not
Corn for the rich men only. With these shreds
They vented their complainings, which being
answer’d
And a petition granted them, a strange one,
To break the heart of generosity
210
And make bold power look pale, they threw their
caps
As they would hang them on the horns o’th’ moon,
Shouting their emulation.
MENENIUS What is granted them?
MARTIUS
Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
Of their own choice. One’s Junius Brutus,
215
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. ’Sdeath,
The rabble should have first unroof’d the city
Ere so prevail’d with me; it will in time
Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes
For insurrection’s arguing.
MENENIUS This is strange.
220
MARTIUS Go get you home, you fragments!
Enter a Messenger hastily.
MESSENGER Where’s Caius Martius?
MARTIUS Here; what’s the matter?
MESSENGER The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.
MARTIUS
I am glad on’t; then we shall ha’ means to vent
Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders.
225
Enter SICINIUS VELUTUS, JUNIUS BRUTUS; COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, with other Senators.
1 SENATOR
Martius, ’tis true, that you have lately told us,
The Volsces are in arms.
MARTIUS They have a leader,
Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to’t.
I sin in envying his nobility;
And were I anything but what I am,
230
I would wish me only he.
COMINIUS You have fought together!
MARTIUS 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.
1 SENATOR Then, worthy Martius,
235
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
COMINIUS It is your former promise.
MARTIUS Sir, it is,
And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus’ face.
What, art thou stiff? Standst out?
LARTIUS No, Caius Martius,
240
I’ll lean upon one crutch, and fight with t’other,
Ere stay behind this business.
MENENIUS Oh, true-bred!
1 SENATOR Your company to th’ Capitol, where I know
Our greatest friends attend us.
LARTIUS [to Cominius] Lead you on.
[to Martius] Follow Cominius, we must follow you,
245
Right worthy you priority.
COMINIUS Noble Martius.
1 SENATOR [to the Citizens]
Hence to your homes, be gone!
MARTIUS Nay, let them follow.
The Volsces have much corn: take these rats thither,
To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners,
Your valour puts well forth: pray follow. Exeunt.
250
[Citizens steal away. Sicinius and Brutus remain.]
SICINIUS Was ever man so proud as is this Martius?
BRUTUS He has no equal.
SICINIUS
When we were chosen tribunes for the people –
BRUTUS Mark’d you his lip and eyes?
SICINIUS Nay, but his taunts.
BRUTUS
Being mov’d, he will not spare to gird the gods.
255
SICINIUS Bemock the modest moon.
BRUTUS The present wars devour him! He is grown
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
260
His insolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius!
BRUTUS Fame, at the which he aims,
In whom already he’s well grac’d, cannot
Better be held, nor more attain’d than by
A place below the first: for what miscarries
265
Shall be the general’s fault, though he perform
To th’utmost of a man, and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Martius, ‘Oh, if he
Had borne the business!’
SICINIUS Besides, if things go well,
Opinion, that so sticks on Martius, shall
270
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
BRUTUS Come.
Half all Cominius’ honours are to Martius,
Though Martius earn’d them not; and all his faults
To Martius shall be honours, though indeed
MENENIUS
There was a time, when all the body’s members
95
Rebell’d against the belly; thus accus’d it:
That only like a gulf it did remain
I’th’ midst o’th’ body, idle and unactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing
Like labour with the rest, where th’other instruments
100
Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,
And, mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly answer’d –
1 CITIZEN Well, sir, what answer made the belly?
105
MENENIUS Sir, I shall tell you. With a kind of smile,
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 replied
To th’ discontented members, the mutinous parts
110
That envied his receipt; even so most fitly,
As you malign our senators, for that
They are not such as you.
1 CITIZEN Your belly’s answer – what?
The kingly crown’d head, the vigilant eye,
The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,
115
Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter,
With other muniments and petty helps
In this our fabric, if that they –
MENENIUS What then?
’Fore me, this fellow speaks! What then? What then?
1 CITIZEN Should by the cormorant belly be restrain’d,
120
Who is the sink o’th’ body –
MENENIUS Well, what then?
1 CITIZEN The former agents, if they did complain,
What could the belly answer?
MENENIUS I will tell you,
If you’ll bestow a small (of what you have little)
Patience awhile, you’st hear the belly’s answer.
125
1 CITIZEN Y’are long about it.
MENENIUS 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
130
Which you do live upon; and fit it is,
Because I am the store-house and the shop
Of the whole body. But, if you do remember,
I send it through the rivers of your blood
Even to the court, the heart, to th’ seat o’th’ brain;
135
And through the cranks and offices of man,
The strongest nerves and small inferior veins
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live. And though that all at once,
You, my good friends,’ – this says the belly, mark
me –
140
1 CITIZEN Ay, sir; well, well.
MENENIUS ‘Though all at once cannot
See what I do deliver out to each,
Yet I can make my audit up, that all
From me do back receive the flour of all,
And leave me but the bran.’ What say you to’t?
145
1 CITIZEN It was an answer. How apply you this?
MENENIUS The senators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members: for examine
Their counsels and their cares, digest things rightly
Touching the weal o’th’ common, you shall find
150
No public benefit which you receive
But it proceeds or comes from them to you,
And no way from yourselves. What do you think,
You, the great toe of this assembly?
1 CITIZEN I the great toe? Why the great toe?
155
MENENIUS
For that being one o’th’ lowest, basest, poorest
Of this most wise rebellion, thou goest foremost:
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead’st first to win some vantage.
But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs;
160
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle;
The one side must have bale.
Enter CAIUS MARTIUS.
Hail, noble Martius.
MARTIUS
Thanks. What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues
That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?
1 CITIZEN We have ever your good word.
165
MARTIUS
He that will give good words to thee, will flatter
Beneath abhorring. What would you have, you curs,
That like nor peace nor war? The one affrights you,
The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
170
Where foxes, geese: you are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,
Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is,
To make him worthy whose offence subdues him,
And curse that justice did it. Who deserves
greatness,
175
Deserves your hate; and your affections are
A sick man’s appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours, swims with fins of lead,
And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye?
180
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 these several places of the city,
You cry against the noble Senate, who
185
(Under the gods) keep you in awe, which else
Would feed on one another? What’s their seeking?
MENENIUS
For corn at their own rates, whereof they say
The city is well stor’d.
MARTIUS Hang ’em! They say!
They’ll sit by th’ fire, and presume to know
190
What’s done i’th’ Capitol: who’s like to rise,
Who thrives, and who declines; side factions, and
give out
Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling such as stand not in their liking
Below their cobbled shoes. They say there’s grain
enough?
195
Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,
And let me use my sword, I’d make a quarry
With thousands of these quarter’d slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.
MENENIUS
Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded;
200
For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But I beseech you,
What says the other troop?
MARTIUS They are dissolv’d. Hang ’em!
They said they were an-hungry, sigh’d forth
proverbs –
That hunger broke stone walls; that dogs must eat;
205
That meat was made for mouths; that the gods sent
not
Corn for the rich men only. With these shreds
They vented their complainings, which being
answer’d
And a petition granted them, a strange one,
To break the heart of generosity
210
And make bold power look pale, they threw their
caps
As they would hang them on the horns o’th’ moon,
Shouting their emulation.
MENENIUS What is granted them?
MARTIUS
Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms,
Of their own choice. One’s Junius Brutus,
215
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. ’Sdeath,
The rabble should have first unroof’d the city
Ere so prevail’d with me; it will in time
Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes
For insurrection’s arguing.
MENENIUS This is strange.
220
MARTIUS Go get you home, you fragments!
Enter a Messenger hastily.
MESSENGER Where’s Caius Martius?
MARTIUS Here; what’s the matter?
MESSENGER The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms.
MARTIUS
I am glad on’t; then we shall ha’ means to vent
Our musty superfluity. See, our best elders.
225
Enter SICINIUS VELUTUS, JUNIUS BRUTUS; COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, with other Senators.
1 SENATOR
Martius, ’tis true, that you have lately told us,
The Volsces are in arms.
MARTIUS They have a leader,
Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to’t.
I sin in envying his nobility;
And were I anything but what I am,
230
I would wish me only he.
COMINIUS You have fought together!
MARTIUS 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.
1 SENATOR Then, worthy Martius,
235
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
COMINIUS It is your former promise.
MARTIUS Sir, it is,
And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus’ face.
What, art thou stiff? Standst out?
LARTIUS No, Caius Martius,
240
I’ll lean upon one crutch, and fight with t’other,
Ere stay behind this business.
MENENIUS Oh, true-bred!
1 SENATOR Your company to th’ Capitol, where I know
Our greatest friends attend us.
LARTIUS [to Cominius] Lead you on.
[to Martius] Follow Cominius, we must follow you,
245
Right worthy you priority.
COMINIUS Noble Martius.
1 SENATOR [to the Citizens]
Hence to your homes, be gone!
MARTIUS Nay, let them follow.
The Volsces have much corn: take these rats thither,
To gnaw their garners. Worshipful mutiners,
Your valour puts well forth: pray follow. Exeunt.
250
[Citizens steal away. Sicinius and Brutus remain.]
SICINIUS Was ever man so proud as is this Martius?
BRUTUS He has no equal.
SICINIUS
When we were chosen tribunes for the people –
BRUTUS Mark’d you his lip and eyes?
SICINIUS Nay, but his taunts.
BRUTUS
Being mov’d, he will not spare to gird the gods.
255
SICINIUS Bemock the modest moon.
BRUTUS The present wars devour him! He is grown
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
260
His insolence can brook to be commanded
Under Cominius!
BRUTUS Fame, at the which he aims,
In whom already he’s well grac’d, cannot
Better be held, nor more attain’d than by
A place below the first: for what miscarries
265
Shall be the general’s fault, though he perform
To th’utmost of a man, and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Martius, ‘Oh, if he
Had borne the business!’
SICINIUS Besides, if things go well,
Opinion, that so sticks on Martius, shall
270
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
BRUTUS Come.
Half all Cominius’ honours are to Martius,
Though Martius earn’d them not; and all his faults
To Martius shall be honours, though indeed
