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 28
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 32
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? 36
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 40
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 44
you could!
Both. What then, sir?
Men. Why, then you should discover a brace
of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magis- 48
trates—alias fools—as any in Rome.
Sic. Menenius, you are known well enough
too.
Men. I am known to be a humorous patri- 52
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.
