Rome and her rats are at the point of battle.

The one side must have bale.

Enter Martius

Hail, noble Martius!

MARTIUS

Thanks.—What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues,

That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,

Make yourselves scabs?

⌈FIRST⌉ CITIZEN

We have ever your good word.

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,

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

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?

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,

Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else

Would feed on one another?

(To Menenius) What’s their seeking?

MENENIUS

For corn at their own rates, whereof they say

The city is well stored.

MARTIUS

Hang ’em! They say?

They’ll sit by th’ fire and presume to know

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!

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth

And let me use my sword, I’d make a quarry

With thousands of these quartered slaves as high

As I could pitch my lance.

MENENIUS

Nay, these are all most thoroughly persuaded,

For though abundantly they lack discretion,

Yet are they passing cowardly. 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,

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

answered,

And a petition granted them—a strange one,

To break the heart of generosity

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,

Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. ’Sdeath,

The rabble should have first unroofed the city

Ere so prevailed with me! It will in time

Win upon power and throw forth greater themes

For insurrection’s arguing.

MENENIUS This is strange.

MARTIUS (to the Citizens) 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.

Enter Sicinius, Brutus, Cominius, Lartius, with other Senators

See, our best elders.

FIRST 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,

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.

FIRST SENATOR Then, worthy Martius,

Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

COMINIUS (to Martius)

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? Stand’st out?

LARTIUS No, Caius Martius.

I’ll lean upon one crutch and fight with th’other

Ere stay behind this business.

MENENIUS O true bred!

⌈FIRST⌉ 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,

Right worthy your priority.

COMINIUS

Noble Martius.

⌈FIRST⌉ 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.

Citizens steal away

Worshipful mutineers,

Your valour puts well forth. (To the Senators) Pray follow.

Exeunt all but Sicinius and Brutus

SICINIUS

Was ever man so proud as is this Martius?

BRUTUS He has no equal.