按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 That envied his receipt； even so most fitly As you
malign our senators for that They are not such as you。 FIRST CITIZEN。
Your belly's answer… What？ The kingly crowned head； the vigilant eye；
The counsellor heart； the arm our soldier； Our steed the leg； the tongue our
trumpeter； With other muniments and petty helps Is this our fabric； if that
they… MENENIUS。 What then？ Fore me； this fellow speaks！ What then？
What then？ FIRST CITIZEN。 Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd；
Who is the sink o' th' body… MENENIUS。 Well； what then？ FIRST
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。 FIRST
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
answered。 'True is it； my incorporate friends；' quoth he 'That I receive the
general food at first Which you do live upon； and fit it is； Because I am the
storehouse 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； 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。 FIRST 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？ FIRST 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 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；
6
… Page 7…
CORIOLANUS
the great toe of this assembly？ FIRST CITIZEN。 I the great toe？ Why the
great toe？ 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。 Rome and her rats are at the point of battle；
The one side must have bale。
Enter CAIUS MARCIUS
Hail； noble Marcius！ MARCIUS。 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。
MARCIUS。 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？ What's
their seeking？ MENENIUS。 For corn at their own rates； whereof they say
The city is well stor'd。 MARCIUS。 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 quarter'd slaves； as high As I could pick
my lance。 MENENIUS。 Nay； these are almost thoroughly persuaded； For
though abundantly they lack discretion； Yet are they passing cowardly。 But；
7
… Page 8…
CORIOLANUS
I beseech you； What says the other troop？ MARCIUS。 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； 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 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？ MARCIUS。 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 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。
MARCIUS。 Go get you home； you fragments。
Enter a MESSENGER； hastily
MESSENGER。 Where's Caius Marcius？ MARCIUS。 Here。 What's
the matter？ MESSENGER。 The news is； sir； the Volsces are in arms。
MARCIUS。 I am glad on't； then we shall ha' means to vent Our musty
superfluity。 See； our best elders。
Enter COMINIUS； TITUS LARTIUS； with other SENATORS；
JUNIUS BRUTUS and SICINIUS VELUTUS
FIRST SENATOR。 Marcius； 'tis true that you have lately told us： T