He could have temporiz'd. Sic. Where is he, hear you? Men. Nay, I hear nothing; his mother and his wife Hear nothing from him. Enter Three or Four Citizens. Cit. The gods preserve you both! Sic. Good-e'en, our neighbours. Bru. Good e'en to you all, good e'en to you all. 1 Cit. Ourselves, our wives, and children, on our knees, pray for you both. Are bound to Bru. Farewell, kind Had lov'd you as we did. Live, and thrive! neighbours: We wish'd Now the gods keep you! [Exeunt Citizens. Sic. This is a happier and more comely time, Than when these fellows ran about the streets, Crying, Confusion. Both Tri. Farewell, farewell. Bru. Caius Marcius was A worthy officer i' the war; but insolent, O'ercome with pride, ambitious past all thinking, Self-loving, Sic. And affecting one sole throne, Without assistance." Men. I think not so. Sic. We should by this, to all our lamentation, If he had gone forth consul, found it so. Bru. The gods have well prevented it, and Rome Sits safe and still without him. Without assistance.] That is, without assessors; without any other suffrage. Ed. Enter Edile. Worthy tribunes, There is a slave, whom we have put in prison, Reports, the Volces with two several powers Men. "Tis Aufidius, Who, hearing of our Marcius' banishment, Thrusts forth his horns again into the world; Which were inshell'd, when Marcius stood for Rome, And durst not once peep out. Sic. Of Marcius? Come, what talk you Bru. Go see this rumourer whipp'd.-It cannot be, The Volces dare break with us. Men. Cannot be ! Mess. The nobles, in great earnestness, are going All to the senate house: some news is come, 6 stood for Rome,] i. e. stood up 7 him. in its defence. reason with the fellow,] That is, have some talk with In this sense Shakspeare often uses the word. That turns their countenances. Sic. "Tis this slave; Yes, worthy sir, What more fearful? Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes:-his raising! Mess. The slave's report is seconded; and more, Sic. Mess. It is spoke freely out of many mouths, Sic. This is most likely! Bru. Rais'd only, that the weaker sort may wish Good Marcius home again. Sic. Men. This is unlikely: The very trick on't. He and Aufidius can no more atone." Than violentest contrariety. Enter another Messenger. Mess. You are sent for to the senate: A fearful ariny, led by Caius Marcius, Associated with Aufidius, rages Upon our territories; and have already, O'erborne their way, consum'd with fire, and took What lay before them. 3 some news is come, sour. That turns their countenances.] i, e. that renders their aspect 9 can no more atone,] To atone, reconcile, and is so used by our author. neutral sense, to come to reconciliation. in the active sense, is to To atone here, is in the To atone is to unite. Enter COMINIUS. Com. O, you have made good work! Men. What news? what news? Com. You have holp to ravish your own daughters, and To melt the city leads upon your pates; To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses; Com. Your temples burned in their cement; and Men. Pray now, your news?You have made fair work, I fear me:-Pray, your news? If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians, Com. He is their god; he leads them like a thing That shapes man better: and they follow him, Or butchers killing flies. Men. If! You have made good work, You, and your apron men; you that stood so much Upon the voice of occupation,' and The breath of garlick-eaters! Com. Your Rome about your ears. Men. He will shake As Hercules Did shake down mellow fruit:2 You have made fair work! 1 Upon the voice of occupation,] Occupation is here used for mechanicks, men occupied in daily business. 2 As Hercules, &c.] A ludicrous allusion to the apples of the Hesperides. Bru. But is this true, sir? Com. Do smilingly revolt; and, who resist, And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him? Men. We are all undone, unless The noble man have mercy. Com. Who shall ask it ?. The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they And therein show'd like enemies. Men. "Tis true: If he were putting to my house the brand You, and your crafts! you have crafted fair! Com. You have brought A trembling upon Rome, such as was never So incapable of help. Tri. Say not, we brought it. Men. How! Was it we? We lov'd him; but, like beasts, And cowardly nobles, gave way to your clusters, But, I fear Com. Do smilingly revolt;] To revolt smilingly is to revolt with signs pleasure, or with marks of contempt. |