University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

Street leading to the Forum.
Citizens passing; others enter.
SECOND CITIZEN.
Stay you—a word: what think you of this business?

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Think? I don't stay to think: with Vivius' coin,
A pouch of it, all safe here in my tunic.

FIRST CITIZEN.
He's but a fool who thinks to buy the people,
Unless he knows the trick to stunt our growth:
A growing good must feed a growing man.
You with your coin;—if in this mutiny,
A Roman sword should chance to find it out,
What comes of you, and your coin after you?—
Both spent. A soldier's not particular;
He'll spill your blood, all in the way of business.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Mutiny? where's the mutiny?—to shout,
And bear a woman home in triumph? Well,
If that's your mutiny—

SECOND CITIZEN.
What! are your eyes
Not strong enough to run the length o' your nose?
This triumph, as he calls it, is one step,
The first, in his rebellion.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
Where's the harm?
For when he takes the second, we can leave him.

THIRD CITIZEN.
Not I—I'll see the end on't on his side;
He's stood by me, and I will stand by him.
'Tis not for want of pains, if he should fail:
He has been late the night, early the morning,
Stirring amongst the people.

FOURTH CITIZEN.
See who come,
The servants of the governor: let's on.

FIRST CITIZEN.
The drones that waste our honey—idle thieves!

[Exeunt Citizens.
Enter Varro and Servants.
FIRST SERVANT.
There go more scowlers: such an eye, ye gods!
You say our master's safe—he need be wary.

VARRO.
Oh, trust the priest, he knows what he's about;
He's always in the marrow of the matter.

SECOND SERVANT.
The money too!—But if we lose the show?

VARRO.
No fear—they are all staunch. The lady writ
Her faith this very morn unto her father:
Her messenger was stopp'd—the priest knows why.

THIRD SERVANT.
How many are there?

VARRO.
Three men and one woman;
Black morsels, two of them. I wonder how
The lady likes her company.

SECOND SERVANT.
Bah! for me.

VARRO.
One Saturus escap'd—the worst, they say,
For he it was who tempted all the rest.

FIRST SERVANT.
To what a feed! What beasts are in the city?

VARRO.
Oh, none of any count; wild cows, bears, leopards,—
None royal.

SECOND SERVANT.
Sure a man might match a leopard:
We shall see rare sport belike.

[A shout.
VARRO.
Quick, forward!

[Exeunt.