Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/47

The Tragedy of Coriolanus, II. i

how you are censured here in the city, I mean

of us o' the right-hand file? Do you?

Both. Why, how are we censured?

Men. Because you talk of pride now,—Will

you not be angry?

Both. Well, well, sir; well.

Men. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very

little thief of occasion will rob you of a great

deal of patience: give your dispositions the

reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the

least, if you take it as a pleasure to you in

being so. You blame Martius for being proud?

Bru. We do it not alone, sir.

Men. I know you can do very little alone;

for your helps are many, or else your actions

would grow wondrous single: your abilities are

too infant-like for doing much alone. You talk

of pride: O that you could turn your eyes

towards the napes of your necks, and make but

an interior survey of your good selves! O that

you could!

Both. What then, sir?

Men. Why, then you should discover a brace

of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magis-

trates—alias fools—as any in Rome.

Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough

too.

Men. I am known to be a humorous patri-

cian, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with

not a drop of allaying Tiber in 't; said to be

 25 censured: estimated

26 right-hand file: conservative, aristocratic party

31, 32 a very occasion: a very little occasion, acting like a thief

40 single: simple, weak

42–44 O that good selves; cf. n.

52 humorous: whimsical

54 allaying Tiber: diluting water; cf. n.

