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, 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: SIC. 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 The trumpets, fackbuts, pfalteries, and fifes, A fea and land full: You have pray'd well to-day; 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, 1. SEN. Behold our patronefs, the life of Rome: Unfhout the noife 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 : C 6 [Exeunt Attendants. Him I dcense, &c. So, in The Winter's Tale : ports -] See p. 249, n. 7. STEEVENS, He I accufe-. Enter three or four Confpirators of Aufidius' faction. Moft welcome! 1. CON. How is it with our general? Even fo, 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, whilft AUF. A good conftruction. Irais'd him, and I pawn'd When he did ftand for conful, which he lost AUF. My best and fresheft men; ferv'd his defignments 1 |