Your valour puts well forth; pray, follow.
Exeunt [Martius, Cominius, Titus, etc.].
Citizens steal away.
Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Martius?
Bru. He has no equal. 259
Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people,—
Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?
Sic. Nay, but his taunts.
Bru. Being mov'd, he will not spare to gird the gods.
Sic. Bemock the modest moon.
Bru. The present wars devour him! he is grown 264
Too proud to be so valiant.
Sic. Such a nature,
Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon. But I do wonder
His insolence can brook to be commanded 268
Under Cominius.
Bru. Fame, at the which he aims,
In whom already he's well grac'd, cannot
Better be held nor more attain'd than by
A place below the first; for what miscarries 272
Shall be the general's fault, though he perform
To th' utmost of a man; and giddy censure
Will then cry out of Martius 'O! if he
Had borne the business.'
Sic. Besides, if things go well, 276
Opinion, that so sticks on Martius, shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
Bru. Come:
Half all Cominius' honours are to Martius,
257 puts . . . forth: shows well (ironic)
257 S.d. Manent: remain on the stage
265 to be: of being
266, 267 disdains . . . noon; cf. n.
274 giddy censure: fickle opinion
278 demerits: merits
