But, I fay, there is no hope in't; our throats are fentenced, and ftay upon execution.4 SIC. Is't poffible, that fo fhort a time can alter the condition of a man? MEN. There is differency between a grub, and a butterfly; yet your butterfly was a grub. This Marcius is grown from man to dragon: he has wings; he's more than a creeping thing. SIC. He lov'd his mother dearly. MEN. So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight year old horfe. The tartness of his face fours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground fhrinks before his treading. He is able to pierce 6 a corflet with his eye; talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He fits in his ftate, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finish'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god, but eternity, and a heaven to throne in. SIC. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. MEN. I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother fhall bring from him: There is no more mercy in him, than there is milk in a male tiger; that fhall our poor city find: and all this is 'long of you? 4 5 SIC. The gods be good unto us! his dam. Atay upon execution. ] i. e. ftay but for it. So, in Macbeth: Worthy Macbeth, we ftay upon your leifure." STEEVENS. than an eight year old horse. ] Subintelligitur remembers WARBURTON. 6 He fits in his flate, &c.] In a foregoing note he was faid to fit in gold. The phrafe, as a thing made for Alexander, means, as one made to refemble Alexander. JOHNSON. His fate meaus his chair of fate. See the paffage quoted from Plutarch, in p. 405, n. 4; and Vol. XI. p. 156, n. 4. MALONE. MEN. No, in fuch a cafe the gods will not be good unto us. When we banish'd him, we refpe&ted not them: and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us. Enter a Meffenger. MES. Sir, if you'd fave your life, fly to your houfe: The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune, SIC. Enter another Meffenger. What's the news? MES. Good news, good news;-The ladies have prevail'd, The Volces are diflodg'd, and Marcius gone: SIC. you; 6 [Trumpets and hautboys founded, and drums beaten, all together. Shouting also within. 6 Ne'er through an arch so hurry'd the blown tide, As the recomforted through the gates, ] So, in our author's Rape of Lucrece: "As through an arch the violent roaring tide The trumpets, fackbuts, pfalteries, and fifes, Tabors, and cymbals, and the fhouting Romans, Make the fun dance. Hark you! [Shouting again. This is good news: MEN. I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia Is worth of confuls, fenators, patricians, A city full; of tribunes, fuch as you, A fea and land full: You have pray'd well to-day; This morning, for ten thousand of your throats I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy! Sic. First, the gods blefs you for your tidings: Blown in the text is fwell'd. So, in Antony and Cleopatra: "There is a vent of blood, and fomething blown." The effect of a high or fpring tide, as it is called, is fo much greater than that which wind commonly produces, that I am not convinced by the following note that my interpretation is erroneous. Water that is fubje& to tides, even when it is not accelerated by a fpring tide, appears fwoln, and to move with more than ordinary rapidity, when paffing through the narrow ftrait of an arch. The blown tide is the tide blown, and consequently accelerated by the wind. So, in another of our author's plays: My boat fails fwiftly both with wind and tide." STEEVENS. Enter the ladies, accompanied by Senators, Patricians, and People. They pafs over the ftage. 1. SEN. Behold our patronefs, the life of Rome: Call all your tribes together, praise the gods, And make triumphant fires; firew flowers before them: Unfhout the noise that banish'd Marcius, Repeal him with the welcome of his mother; ALL. Welcome! Welcome, ladies! [A flourish with drums and trumpets. Excunt. SCENE V. Antium, A public Place. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants. AUF. Go tell the lords of the city, I am here : Deliver them this paper: having read it, Bid them repair to the matket-place; where I, Even in theirs and in the commons' ears, Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accufe, The city ports' by this hath enter'd, and Intends to appear before the people, hoping Το purge him felf with words: Defpatch. 6 [Exeunt Attendants. Him I accufe, &c. ] So, in The Winter's Tale: "I am appointed him to murder you." Mr. Pope and all the fubfequent editors read He accufe-. Enter three or four Confpirators of Aufidius' faction. Moft welcome! 1. CON. How is it with our general? AUF. Even fo, As with a man by his own alms empoifon'd, And with his charity flain. 2. CON. Moft noble fir, We must proceed, as we do find the people. 3. CON. The people will remain uncertain, whilst 'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the furvivor heir of all. AUF. A good conftruction. Irais'd him, and I pawn'd When he did ftand for conful, which he loft AUF. |