My name hath touch'd your ears: it is Menenius.
1. Wat. Be it so; go back: the virtue of your name 12
Is not here passable.
Men. I tell thee, fellow,
Thy general is my lover: I have been
The book of his good acts, whence men have read
His fame unparallel'd, haply amplified; 16
For I have ever verified my friends—
Of whom he's chief—with all the size that verity
Would without lapsing suffer: nay, sometimes,
Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground, 20
I have tumbled past the throw, and in his praise
Have almost stamp'd the leasing. Therefore, fellow,
I must have leave to pass.
1. Wat. Faith, sir, if you had told as many 24
lies in his behalf as you have uttered words in
your own, you should not pass here; no, though
it were as virtuous to lie as to live chastely.
Therefore go back. 28
Men. Prithee, fellow, remember my name is
Menenius, always factionary on the party of your
general.
2. Wat. Howsoever you have been his liar 32
—as you say you have—I am one that,
telling true under him, must say you cannot pass.
Therefore go back.
Men. Has he dined, canst thou tell? for I 36
would not speak with him till after dinner.
1. Wat. You are a Roman, are you?
Men. I am as thy general is.
13 passable: valid
15 book: record, that which reports
17 verified my friends: shown my friends to be my friends; cf. n.
18 size: exaggeration
19 lapsing: slipping into falsehood
20 subtle: temptingly level
21 throw: distance aimed at
22 stamp'd the leasing: confirmed actual falsehood
30 factionary . . . party: an active adherent
34 telling . . . him: speaking truth in his service
