Page 2928 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

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! [30]

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 [35]
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?

SECOND MESSENGER

Good news, good news! The ladies have prevailed,
The Volscians are dislodged and Martius gone. [40]
A merrier day did never yet greet Rome,
No, not th’expulsion of the Tarquins.

SICINIUS
Friend,

Art thou certain this is true? Is’t most certain?

SECOND MESSENGER