SCENE VII. A Camp; at a small Distance from Rome. Enter AUFI DIUS, with his Lieutenant. Auf. Do they still fly to the Roman ? Lieu. I do not know what witchcraft's in him; but Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat, Their talk at table, and their thanks at end; Auf. I cannot help it now; Unless, by using means, I lame the foot Lieu. Yet I wish, sir (I mean, for your particular), you had not Join'd in commission with him: but either borne Had left it solely. 660 670 Auf. I understand thee well; and be thou sure, When he shall come to his account, he knows not What I can urge against him. Although it seems, And so he thinks, and is no less apparent To the vulgar eye, that he bears all things fairly, 680 And shews good husbandry for the Volscian state; Lij Fights Fights dragon-like, and does achieve as soon That, which shall break his neck, or hazard mine, Whene'er we come to our account. Lieu. Sir, I beseech you, think you he'll carry Rome? Auf. All places yield to him ere he sits down ; And the nobility of Rome are his : The senators, and patricians, love him too : The tribunes are no soldiers; and their people 690 Will be as rash in the repeal, as hasty To expel him thence. I think, he'll be to Rome By sovereignty of nature. First he was A noble servant to them; but he could not 700 From the casque to the cushion, but commanding peace Even with the same austerity and garb As he controll'd the war: but, one of these (As he hath spices of them all, not all, For I dare so far free him), made him fear'd, So hated, and so banish'd: But he has a merit, And And power, unto itself most commendable, To extol what it hath done. 710 One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail ; ACT V. SCENE 1. A publick Place in Rome. Enter MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SICINIUS, and BRUTUS, with others. Menenius. No, I'll not go you hear, what he hath said, Men. Do you hear ? Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name : Liij 11 'Till 'Till he had forg'd himself a name i' the fire Of burning Rome. Men. Why, so; you have made good work : A pair of tribunes, that have rack'd for Rome, To make coals cheap: A noble memory! Com. I minded him, how royal 'twas to pardon When least it was expected: He reply'd, It was a bare petition of a state, To one whom they had punish'd. Men. Very well : Could he say less? Com. I offer'd to awaken his regard For his private friends: His answer to me was, Of noisome, musty chaff: He said, 'twas folly, Men. For one poor grain or two? I am one of those; his mother, wife, his child, Sic. Nay, pray, be patient: If you refuse your 21 30 aid In this so never-needed help, yet do not Might stop our countryman. Men. No; I'll not meddle. Sic. Pray you, go to him. 41 Men. Men. What should I do? Bru. Only make trial what your love can do For Rome, towards Marcius. Men. Well, and say that Marcius Return me, as Cominius is return'd, But as a discontented friend, grief-shot Sic. Yet your good will 50 Must have that thanks from Rome, after the measure As you intended well. Men. I'll undertake it : I think, he'll hear me. Yet to bite his lip, The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then 60 To give or to forgive; but when we have stuff'd Than in our priest-like fasts: therefore I'll watch him Till he be dieted to my request, And then I'll set upon him. Bru. You know the very road into his kindness, And cannot lose your way. Men. Good faith, I'll prove him, Speed how it will. I shall ere long have knowledge Of my success. Com. He'll never hear him. 70 [Exit. |