Shakespeare, William · published 1623 · first performed or written 1608 (Annals) tragedy · King's Men unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 541 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
BEfore we proceed any further, hear me speak. Speak, speak. You are all resolved rather to die then to famish? Resolved, resolved. First you know, Caius Martius' is chief enemy to the people. We know't, we know't. 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. We are accounted poor Citizens, the Patricians good: what Authority surfeits one, 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 particularise 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 Martius. Against him first: He's a very dog to the Commonalty. Consider you what Services he has done for his Country? 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. 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. What he cannot help in his Nature, you account a Vice in him: You must in no way say he is covetous. If I must not, I need not be barren of Accusations he hath faults (with surplus) to tire in repetition. What shouts are these? The other side o' th' City is risen: why stay we prating here? To th' 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. Our business is not unknown to th' Senate, they have had inkling this fortnight what we intent to do, with 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, then 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.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
BEfore we proceed any further, heare me ſpeake. Speake, ſpeake. You are all reſolu'd rather to dy then to famiſh? Reſolu'd, reſolu'd. Firſt you know, Caius Martius is chiefe enemy to the people. We know't, we know't. Let vs kill him, and wee'l haue Corne at our own price. Is't a Verdict? No more talking on't; Let it be done, away, away One word, good Citizens. We are accounted poore Citizens, the Patricians good: what Authority ſurfets one, would releeue vs. If they would yeelde vs but the ſuperfluitie while it were wholſome, wee might gueſſe they releeued vs humanely: But they thinke we are too deere, the leanneſſe that afflicts vs, the obiect of our miſery, is as an inuentory to particularize their abundance, our ſufferance is a gaine to them. Let vs reuenge this with our Pikes, ere we become Rakes. For the Gods know, I ſpeake this in hunger for Bread, not in thirſt for Reuenge. Would you proceede eſpecially againſt Caius Martius. Againſt him firſt: He's a very dog to the Commonalty. Conſider you what Seruices he ha's done for his Country? Very well, and could bee content to giue him good report for't, but that hee payes himſelfe with beeing proud. Nay, but ſpeak not maliciouſly. I ſay vnto you, what he hath done Famouſlie, he did it to that end: though ſoft conſcienc'd men can be content to ſay it was for his Countrey, he did it to pleaſe his Mother and to be partly proud, which he is, euen to the altitude of his vertue. What he cannot helpe in his Nature, you account a Vice in him: You muſt in no way ſay he is couetous. If I muſt not, I neede not be barren of Accuſations he hath faults (with ſurplus) to tyre in repetition. What ſhowts are theſe? The other ſide a' th City is riſen: why ſtay we prating heere? To th' Capitoll. Come, come. Soft, who comes heere? Worthy Menenius Agrippa, one that hath alwayes lou'd the people. He's one honeſt enough, wold al the reſt wer ſo. What work's my Countrimen in hand? Where go you with Bats and Clubs? The matter Speake I pray you. Our buſines is not vnknowne to th' Senat, they haue had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do, wt now wee'l ſhew em in deeds: they ſay poore Suters haue ſtrong breaths, they ſhal know we haue ſtrong arms too. Why Maſters, my good Friends, mine honeſt Neighbours, will you vndo your ſelues? We cannot Sir, we are vndone already. I tell you Friends, moſt charitable care Haue the Patricians of you for your wants. Your ſuffering in this dearth, you may as well Strike at the Heauen with your ſtaues, as lift them Againſt the Roman State, whoſe courſe will on The way it takes: cracking ten thouſand Curbes Of more ſtrong linke aſſunder, then can euer Appeare in your impediment. For the Dearth, The Gods, not the Patricians make it, and Your knees to them (not armes) muſt helpe. Alacke, You are tranſported by Calamity Thether, where more attends you, and you ſlander The Helmes o' th State; who care for you like Fathers, When you curſe them, as Enemies.