Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.

      Speak, speak.

      You are all resolved rather to die than to famish?

      Resolved, resolved.

      First, you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people.

      We know't, we know't.

      FIRST CITIZEN. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict?

      No more talking on't; let it be done: away, away!

      One word, good citizens.

      FIRST CITIZEN. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians good. What authority surfeits on would relieve us; if they would yield us but the superfluity, while it were wholesome, we might guess they relieved us humanely; but they think we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our misery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance is a gain to them. – Let us revenge this with our pikes ere we become rakes: for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

      Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

      Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty.

      Consider you what services he has done for his country?

      FIRST CITIZEN. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud.

      Nay, but speak not maliciously.

      FIRST CITIZEN. I say unto you, what he hath done famously he did it to that end: though soft-conscienced men can be content to say it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

      SECOND CITIZEN. What he cannot help in his nature you account a vice in him. You must in no way say he is covetous.

      FIRST CITIZEN. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o' the city is risen: why stay we prating here? to the Capitol!

      Come, come.

      Soft! who comes here?

      Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people.

      He's one honest enough; would all the rest were so!

      What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you

      With bats and clubs? the matter? speak, I pray you.

      FIRST CITIZEN. Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say poor suitors have strong breaths; they shall know we have strong arms too.

      Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours,

      Will you undo yourselves?

      We cannot, sir; we are undone already.

      I tell you, friends, most charitable care

      Have the patricians of you. For your wants,

      Your suffering in this dearth, you may as well

      Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them

      Against the Roman state; whose course will on

      The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs

      Of more strong link asunder than can ever

      Appear in your impediment: for the dearth,

      The gods, not the patricians, make it; and

      Your knees to them, not arms, must help. Alack,

      You are transported by calamity

      Thither where more attends you; and you slander

      The helms o' th' state, who care for you like fathers,

      When you curse them as enemies.

      FIRST CITIZEN. Care for us! True, indeed! They ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their storehouses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich, and provide more piercing statutes daily to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us.

      Either you must

      Confess yourselves wondrous malicious,

      Or be accus'd of folly. I shall tell you

      A pretty tale: it may be you have heard it;

      But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture

      To stale't a little more.

      FIRST CITIZEN. Well, I'll hear it, sir; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver.

      There was a time when all the body's members

      Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it: —

      That only like a gulf it did remain

      I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive,

      Still