But, I say, there is no hope in't; our throats are sentenced, and stay upon execution.4

SIC. Is't poffible, that fo short 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.

MEN. So did he me: and he no more remembers his mother now, than an eight year old horfe. The tartness of his face fours ripe grapes. When he walks, he moves like an engine, and the ground shrinks 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 state, as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids be done, is finish'd with his bidding. He wants nothing of a god, but eternity, and a heaven to throne in.

SIC. Yes, mercy, if you report him truly. MEN. 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?

4

SIC. The gods be good unto us!

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tay upon execution:] i. e. stay but for it. So, in Macbeth: "Worthy Macbeth, we ftay upon your leisure." STEEVENS. than an eight year old horse.] Subintelligitur remembers his dam. WARBURTON.

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• He fits in his state, &c.] In a foregoing note he was faid to fit in gold. The phrafe, as a thing made for Alexander, means,

made to refemble Alexander. JOHNSON.

His ftate means his chair of late.

as one

See the paffage quoted from

Plutarch, in p. 405, n. 4; and Vol. XI. p. 156, n. 4. MALONE. MEN. No, in such a case the gods will not be good unto us. When we banish'd him, we respected not them: and, he returning to break our necks, they respect not us.

Enter a Messenger.

MES. Sir, if you'd save 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 most 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 so hurry'd the blown tide, As the recomforted throrugh the gates, Why, hark

you;

[Trumpets and hautboys founded, and drums beaten, all together. Shouting also within.

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

As the recomforted through the gates, So, in our author's Rape

of Lucrece:

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

The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes,
Tabors, and cymbals, and the shouting 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, such 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. Hark, how they joy!
[Shouting and musick.

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

next, Accept my thankfulness.

Blown in the text is swell'd. So, in Antony and Cleopatra:

" There is a vent of blood, and something blown."

The effect of a high or spring tide, as it is called, is so 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 subject to tides, even when it is not accelerated by a spring tide, appears swoln, and to move with more than ordinary rapidity, when paffing through the narrow strait 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:

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

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

them:

Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius,
Repeal him with the welcome of his mother;
Cry, Welcome, ladies, welcome!

ALL.

Welcome, ladies!

Welcome!

[A flourish with drums and trumpets. Exeunt.

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 Laccuse,
The city ports' by this hath enter'd, and
Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: Defpatch.

G

[ Exeunt Attendants.

-- Him I accuse, &c.] So, in The Winter's Tale :
"I am appointed him to murder you."

Mr. Pope and all the fubfequent editors read

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

1

He I accufe-.
MALONE,

1

L

Enter three or four Conspirators of Aufidius' faction.

Moft welcome!

1. CON. How is it with our general?
AUF.

Even so,

As with a man by his own alms empoifon'd,

And with his charity flain.

2. CON.

Most noble fir,

If you do hold the same intent wherein
You wish'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, whilst 'Twixt you there's difference; but the fall of either Makes the furvivor heir of all.

AUF.

I know it;

And my pretext to strike at him admits

A good conftruction. I rais'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 so my friends: and, to this end,
He bow'd his nature, never known before.

But to be rough, unswayable, and free.
3. CON. Sir, his ftoutness,

When he did stand for conful, which he loft
By lack of stooping, -

AUF.

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

My best and freshest men; ferv'd his designments

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