Act V, Scene iv:
Rome. A public place.

[Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS.]

MENENIUS:

See you yond coign o' the Capitol,—yond corner-stone?

SICINIUS:

Why, what of that?

MENENIUS:

If it be possible for you to displace it with your little

finger, there is some hope the ladies of Rome, especially his

mother, may prevail with him. But I say there is no hope in't:

our throats are sentenced, and stay upon execution.

SICINIUS:

Is't possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a

man?

MENENIUS:

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.

SICINIUS:

He loved his mother dearly.

MENENIUS:

So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother now than an

eight-year-old horse. The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes:

when he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks

before his treading: he is able to pierce a corslet with his eye,

talks like a knell, and his hum is a battery. He sits in his

state as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done is

finished with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god but

eternity, and a heaven to throne in.

SICINIUS:

Yes, mercy, if you report him truly.

MENENIUS:

I paint him in the character. Mark what mercy his mother shall

bring from him. There is no more mercy in him than there is

milk in a male tiger; that shall our poor city find: and all this

is 'long of you.

SICINIUS:

The gods be good unto us!

MENENIUS:

No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we

banished him we respected not them; and, he returning to break

our necks, they respect not us.

[Enter a MESSENGER

MESSENGER:

Sir, if you'd save your life, fly to your house:

The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune

And hale him up and down; all swearing, if

The Roman ladies bring not comfort home

They'll give him death by inches.

[Enter a second MESSENGER.]

SICINIUS:

What's the news?

SECOND MESSENGER:

Good news, good news;—the ladies have prevail'd,

The Volscians are dislodg'd, and Marcius gone:

A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,

No, not the expulsion of the Tarquins.

SICINIUS:

Friend,

Art thou certain this is true? is't most certain?

SECOND MESSENGER:

As certain as I know the sun is fire:

Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?

Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide

As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark you!

[Trumpets and hautboys sounded, drums beaten, aand shoutingwithin.]

The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes,

Tabors and cymbals, and the shouting Romans,

Make the sun dance. Hark you!

[Shouting within.]

MENENIUS:

This is good news.

I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia

Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,

A city full: of tribunes such as you,

A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day:

This morning for ten thousand of your throats

Ied not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!

[Shouting and music.]

SICINIUS:

First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next,

Accept my thankfulness.

SECOND MESSENGER:

Sir, we have all

Great cause to give great thanks.

SICINIUS:

They are near the city?

MESSENGER:

Almost at point to enter.

SICINIUS:

We'll meet them,

And help the joy.

[Exeunt.]