Com. The people are abus'd:-Set on.-This palBecomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus [t'ring Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely I'the plain way of his merit. Cor. Tell me of corn! This was my speech, and I will speak't again ;- Not in this heat, sir, now. For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them Therein behold themselves: I say again, In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd and scatter'd, By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that Which they have given to beggars. Men. Well, no more. O good, but most unwise patricians, why, The horn and noise o'the monsters, wants not spirit And make your channel his? If he have power, Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians, Com. Men. Well, well, no more of that. Cor. (Though there the people had more absolute I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed [power) The ruin of the state. Bru. Why, shall the people give One, that speaks thus, their voice? Cor. I'll give my reasons, More worthier than their voices. They know,the corn Was not our recompense; resting well assur'd They ne'er did service for't: Being press'd to the war, Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, They would not thread the gates: this kind of service Did not deserve corn gratis: being i'the war, Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd Most valour, spoke not for them: The accusation Which they have often made against the senate, All cause unborn, could never be the motive Of our so frank donation. Well, what then? How shall this bosom multiplied digest The senate's courtesy.? Let deeds express What's like to be their words :- We did request it; Men. Cor. No, take more : What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Seal what I end withal!-This double worship,Where one part does disdain with cause, the other Insult without all reason; where gentry, title, wisdom, Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no Of general ignorance,-it must omit Real uecessities, and give way the while. To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows, Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseechi You that will be less fearful than discreet; [you,That love the fundamental part of state, More than yon doubt the change of't; that prefer A noble life before a long, and wish To jump a body with a dangerous physic That's sure of death without it,-at once pluck out The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick The sweet which is their poison: your dishonour Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the state Of that integrity which should become it; Not having the power to do the good it would, For the ill which doth control it. Bru. He has said enough. Sic. He has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer As traitors do. Cor. Thou wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee !What should the people do with these bald tribunes? On whom depending, their obedience fails To the greater bench: In a rebellion, When what's not meet, but what must be, was law, Men. On both sides more respect. Seize him, sediles. Cit. Down with him, down with him! 2 Sen. [Several speak. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [They all bustle about Coriolanus. Tribunes, patricians, citizens !--what, bo!-Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens ! Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace! Sic. Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties: Men. Fie, fie, fie! This is the way to kindle, not to quench. 1 Sen. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat. Sic. What is the city, but the people? Cit. True, The people are the city. Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd The people's magistrates. Cit. You so remain. Men. And so are like to do. Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat; Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield. Hear me one word. Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's friend, Bru. Sir, those cold ways, Men. Go, get you to your house; be gone, away, 2 Sen. Cor. Get you gone. We have as many friends as enemies. Men. Shall it be put to that? 1 Sen. people, I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two; Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away. The gods forbid ! I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy house; Men. For 'tis a sore upon us. Cor. I would they were barbarians (as they are, Put not your worthy rage into your tongue; Cor. I could beat forty of them. Be gone, On fair ground, I could myself [bunes. Nay, come away. What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent; (A Noise within. I would they were a-bed! If it were so, Sic. What do ye talk? Well, Men. Repent what you have spoke. Cor. For them ?-I cannot do it to the gods; Must I then do't to them? Vol. You are too absolute; Though therein you can never be too noble, But when extremities speak. I have heard you say, Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends, I'the war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me, In peace, what each of them by th' other lose, That they combine not there. Tush, tush! Cor. Men. A good demand. Vol. If it be honour, in your wars, to seem The same you are not (which, for your best ends, Yon adopt your policy), how is it less, or worse, That it shall hold companionship in peace With honour, as in war; since that to both It stands in like request? Cor. I would dissemble with my nature, where Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles; How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon them, Men. Noble lady! Come, go with us; speak fair: you may salve so, Vol. I pr'ythee now, my son, Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand; And thus far having stretch'd it (here be with them), Thy knee bussing the stones (for in such business Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant More learned than the ears), waving thy head, Which often, thus, correcting thy stout heart, Now humble, as the ripest mulberry, That will not hold the handling: Or, say to them, Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils, Hast not the soft way, which, thou dost confess, Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim, In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far As thou hast power, and person. Men. This but done, Even as she speaks, why, all their hearts were yours; For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free As words little purpose. Vol. Pr'ythee now, Go, and be rul'd: although, I know, thou hadst rather Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf, Than flatter him in a bower. Here is Cominius. Can thereto frame his spirit. You have pot me now to such a part, which never Come, come, we'll prompt you. Cor. Well, I must do't: Away, my disposition, and possess me Vol. Cor. Pray, be content; Mother, I am going to the market-place; Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves, Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going: Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul; Or never trust to what my tongue can do I'the way of flattery, further. Vol. [self Do your will. [Exit. Com. Away, the tribunes do attend you: arm yourTo answer mildly; for they are prepar'd With accusations, as I hear, more strong Than are upon you yet. Cor. The word is, mildly :-Pray you, let us go: Let them accuse me by invention, I Will answer in mine honour. Men. Ay, but mildly. Cor. Well, mildly be it then; mildly. [Exeunt. Have you a catalogue Of all the voices that we have procur'd, Set down by the poll? Edi. I have; 'tis ready, here. Sic. Have you collected them by tribes ? Edi. I have. Sic. Assemble presently the people hither: And power i'the truth o'the cause. I shall inform them. Of what we chance to sentence. Bru. Very well. Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this hint, Sic. Well, here he comes. Calmly, I do beseech you. Cor. Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume.-The honour'd gods Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice Supplied with worthy men! plant love among us! Throng our large temples with the shows of peace, And not our streets with war! Amen, amen! Cor. Say then: 'tis true, I ought so. Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take i From Rome all season'd office, and to wind Yourself into a power tyrannical; For which, you are a traitor to the people. Cor. How! traitor ? Men. Nay; temperately; your promise. Cor. The fires i'the lowest hell fold in the people! Call me their traitor?--Thon injurious tribune! Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths, In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say, Thon liest, unto thee, with a voice as free As I do pray the gods. Sic. Mark you this, people? Cit. To the rock with him; to the rock with him! We need not put new matter to his charge: Deserves the extremest death.. Is this Know, Men. The promise that you made your mother? I'll know no further: Sic. Cit. It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd, Com. Hear me, my masters, and mycommon friends;- I have been consul, and can show from Rome, Sic. Cit. It shall be so, it shall be so. Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate As reek o'the rotten fens, whose loves I prize As the dead carcasses of unburied men That do corrupt my air, I banish you; And here remain with your uncertainty! Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts! Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes, Fan you into despair! Have the power still To banish your defenders; till, at length, Your ignorance (which finds not, till it feels), Making not reservation of yourselves (Still your own foes), deliver you, as most Abated captives, to some nation That won you without blows! Despising, For you, the city, thus I turn my back: There is a world elsewhere. [Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, Menenius, Senators, and Patricians, Edi. The people's enemy is gone, is gone! Cit. Our enemy's banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo! [The People shout, and throw up their Caps, Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, SS Sic. They say, she's mad. They have ta'en note of us : SCENE 1. The same. Before a Gate of the City. Enter Coriolanus, Volumnia, Virgilia, Menenius, Cominius, and several young Patricians. Cor. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell:- With many heads butts me away.-Nay, mother, Vir. O heavens! O heavens ! Nay, I pr'ythee, woman, Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in And occupations perish! [Rome, Cor. Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd Keep on your way. Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague o'the Nay, and you shall hear some.-Will you be gone? Sic. Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship Sic. O blessed heavens ! Sic. Vir. What then? What then? Droop not; adieu:-Farewell, my wife! my mother! He'd make an end of thy posterity. I'll do well yet.-Thou old and true Menenius, And venomous to thine eyes.-My sometime general, As 'tis to laugh at them.--My mother, you wot well, Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen), your son Vol. Cor. O the gods! Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee. Cor. Fare ye well:- Men. Vol. Now, pray, sir, get you gone : The meanest house in Rome; so far, my son Why stay we to be baited Vol. [Exeunt Tribunes. But to confirm my curses! Could I meet them You have told them home, [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Highway between Rome and Antium. Volce. It is so, sir: truly, I have forgot you. Volce. Nicanor? No. Rom. The same, sir. Volce. You had more beard when I last saw you; but your favour is well appeared by your tongue. What's the news in Rome? I have a note from the Volscian's state, to find you out there: You have well saved me a day's journey. Rom. There hath been in Rome strange insurrection: the people against the senators, patricians, and nobles. Volce. Hath been! Is it ended then? Our state thinks not so; they are in a most warlike preparation, and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division. |