Rome. A Public Place.
 Enter MENENIUS and SICINIUS.

Menenius	See you yond coign o'th' 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 Martius 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 another MESSENGER.

Sicinius										What's the news?

2nd Messenger	Good news, good news: the ladies have prevailed;
	The Volscians are dislodged, and Martius 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?

2nd Messenger	As certain as I know the sun is fire:
	Where have you lurked 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, hautboys, drums beat, all together.

	The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries and fifes,
	Tabors and cymbals and the shouting Romans
	Make the sun dance. Hark you.
												[A shout 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 prayed well today.
	This morning for ten thousand of your throats
	I'd not have given a doit. Hark, how they joy!
												[Sound still with the shouts.

Sicinius	First, the gods bless you for your tidings; next
	Accept my thankfulness.

2nd Messenger	Sir, we have all great cause to give great thanks.

Sicinius	They are near the city?

2nd Messenger	Almost at point to enter.

Sicinius	We'll meet them, and help the joy.
												[Exeunt.
