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.

5

MEN. So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight year old horfe. The tartnefs 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. 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 finifh'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god, but eternity, and a heaven to throne in.

6

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 shall our poor city find: and all this is 'long of you?

SIC. The gods be good unto us!

kis dam.

fay upon execution:] i. e. ftay but for it. So, in Macbeth : "Worthy Macbeth, we flay upon your leifure." STEEVENS. than an eight year old horfe.] Subintelligitur remembers WARBURTON.

6 He fits in his fiate, &c.] In a foregoing note he was faid to fit in gold The phrafe, as a thing made for diexander, means, as one made to refemble Alexander. JOHNSON.

His fate means 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 case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banish'd him, we refpected not them: and, he returning to break our necks, they refpect not us.

Enter a Messenger.

MES. Sir, if you'd fave your life, fly to your

houfe:

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.

SIC.

Enter another Messenger.

What's the news?

MES. Good news, good news;-The ladies have

prevail'd,

The Volces are diflodg'd, and Marcius gone:
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not the expulfion of the Tarquins.

SIC.
Friend,
Art thou certain, this is true? is it moft certain?
MES. As certain, as I know the fun is fire:
Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt ofit?
Ne'er through an arch fo hurry'd the blown tide,
As the recomforted throrugh the gates, Why, hark

you;

6

{ Trumpets and hautboys founded, and drums beaten, all together. Shouting alfo within.

6 Ne'er through an arch so hurry'd the blown tide,

As the recomforted through the gates, ] So, in our author's Rapt of Lucrece:

"As through an arch the violent roaring tide
"Out-ruus the eye that doth behold his hafte.”

The trumpets, fackbuts, pfalteries, and fifes,
Tabors, and cymbals, and the fhouting Romans,
Make the fun dance. Hark you! [Shouting again.
MEN.
This is good news:
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.
a doit. Hark, how they joy!
[Shouting and mufick.

Sic. First, the gods blefs you for your tidings:

Blown in the text is fwell'd. So, in Antony and Cleopatra: 66 11 here on her breaft

[Going.

"There is a vent of blood, and fomething blown." The effect of a high or spring 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.

MALONE.

The blown tide is the tide blown, and confequently accelerated by the wind. So, in another of our author's plays:

"My boat fails swiftly both with wind and tide.”

STEEVENS.

Enter the ladies, accompanied by Senators, Patricians,
and People. They pass over the flage.

1. SEN. Behold our patronefs, the life of Rome:
Call all your tribes together, praise the gods,
And make triumphant fires; ftrew flowers before
them:

Unfhout the noife that banish'd Marcius,

Repeal him with the welcome of his mother;
Cry, Welcome, ladies, welcome!

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 market-place; where I,
Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. Him Iaccufe,
The city ports' by this hath enter'd, and
Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: Defpatch.

C

6

[Exeunt Attendants.

Him I dcense, &c. So, in The Winter's Tale :
"I am appointed him to murder you."
Mr. Pope and all the fubfequent editors read

ports -] See p. 249, n. 7. STEEVENS,

He I accufe-.
MALONE.

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,
If you do hold the fame intent wherein
You wifh'd us parties, we'll deliver you
Of your great danger.

We must proceed, as we do find the people.

3. CON. The people will remain uncertain, whilft
'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either
Makes the furvivor heir of all.

AUF.
I know it;
And my pretext to ftrike at him admits

A good conftruction. Irais'd him, and I pawn'd
Mine honour for his truth: Who being so heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing fo my friends: and, to this end,
He bow'd his nature, never known before.
But to be rough, unfwayable, and free.
3. CON. Sir, his floutnefs,

When he did ftand for conful, which he lost
By lack of ftooping,-

AUF.
That I would have fpoke of:
Being banifh'd for't, he came unto my hearth;
Prefented to my knife his throat: I took him;
Made him joint-fervant with me; gave him way
In all his own defires; nay, let him choofe
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish

My best and fresheft men; ferv'd his defignments

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