Men. I'll keep you company.--Will you along? [Exeunt CORIOL. and MENEN. He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, 'Tis warm at his heart. Bru. With a proud heart he wore 1 Cit. I twice five hundred and their friends to piece 'em. Bru. Get you hence instantly; and tell those They have chose a consul, that will from them take His humble weeds: Will you dismiss the people? As therefore kept to do so. Re-enter CITIZENS. Sic. Let them assemble; Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride, this man? 1 Cit. He has our voices, Sir. Bru. We pray the gods, he may deserve your loves. 2 Cit. Amen, Sir: To my poor unworthy noHe mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices. [tice, 3 Cit. Certainly, He flouted us downright. 1 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not says He us'd us scornfully he should have show'd us Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure. [Several speak. 3 Cit. He said he had wounds, which he could show in private; And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, you, Sic. Why, either you were ignorant to see't? Bru. Could you not have told him, As you were lesson'd,-When he had no power, Sic. Thus to have said, As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit, Tying him to aught: so, putting him to rage, Bru. Did you perceive, He did solicit you in free contempt, When he did need your loves; and do you think, bodies No heart among you? Or had you tongues to cry Sic. Have you, Ere now, denied the asker? and, now again, On him, that did not ask, but mock, bestow Your su'd-for tongues? 3 Cit. He's not confirm'd, we may deny him 2 Cit. And will deny him: I'll have five hundred voices of that sound. Plebeians. And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd Sic. Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided To voice him consul: Lay the fault on us. Sic. One thus descended, That hath beside well in his person wrought Bru. Say, you ne'er had don't, Com. They are worn, lord consul, so, That we shall hardly in our ages see Their banners wave again. Cor. Saw you Aufidius? Lart. On safe-guard he came to me; did curse Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely Yielded the town: he is retir'd to Antium. Cor. Spoke he of me? Lart. He did, my lord. Cor. How? what? Com. The people are abus'd-Set on.-This palt'ring Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus and I'the plain way of his merit. Cor. Tell me of corn! This was my speech, and I will speak't again ;- 1 Sen. Not in this heat, Sir, now. Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My noble friends, I crave their pardous : Lart. How often he had met you, sword to For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them sword: That, of all things upon the earth, he hated Your person most: that he would pawn his tunes To hopeless restitution, so he might Be call'd your vanquisher. Mar. At Antium lives he? Lart. At Antium. for Cor. I wish I had a cause to seek him there, To oppose his hatred fully.-Welcome home. [To LARTIUS. Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS. Behold! these are the tribunes of the people, The tongues o'the common mouth. I do despise them : For they do prank + them in authority, Against all noble sufferance. Sic. Pass no further. Cor. Ha! what is that? Bru. It will be dangerous to Go on: no further. Cor. What makes this change? Men. The matter? Com. Hath he not pass'd the nobles, and the commons? Bru. Cominius, no. Cor. Have I had children's voices? 1 Sen. Tribunes, give way; he shall to the market-place. Bru. The people are incens'd against him. Or all will fall in broil. Cor. Are these your herd? Must these have voices, that can yield them now, And straight disclaim their tongues ?-What are your offices? You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth? Have you not set them on? Men. Be calm, be calin. Cor. It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot, To curb the will of the nobility: Suffer it, and live with such as cannot rule, Bru. Call't not a plot : The people cry, you mock'd them; and, of late, When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd; Scandal'd the suppliants for the people; call'd them Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. Cor. Have you inform'd them since ? Cor. You are like to do such business. Bru. Not unlike, Each way to better yours. Cor. Why then should I be consul? By yon clouds, Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me Sic. You show too much of that, For which the people stir: If you will pass To where you are bound, you must inquire your Men. Well, no more. 1 Sen. No more words, we beseech you. As for my country I have shed my blood Which we disdain should tetter¶ us, yet sought Bru. You speak o'the people, As if you were a god to punis. not A man of their infirmity. Sic. 'Twere well, We let the people know't. Men. What, what? his choler? Most palates theirs. They choose their magis- It makes the consuls base: and my soul akes To know, when two authorities are up, Com. Well-on to the market-place. Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o'the storehouse gratis, as 'twas us'd Sometime in Greece, Men. Well, well, no more of that. Cor. (Though there the people had more ab I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed Cockle is a weed which grows up with corn. Seab The smallest fish. ft According to law. 11 Thoughtless. the war, Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, Did not deserve corn gratis: being i'the war, Which they have often made against the senate, We are the greater poll,‡ and in true fear The locks o'the senate, and bring in the crows Men. Come, enough. Bru. Enough, with over-measure. What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseech you, You that will be less fearful than discreet; A noble life before a long, and wish To jump a body with a dangerous physic The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick Bru. He has said enough. Sic. He has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer As traitors do. Sen. & Pat. We'll surety him. Com. Aged Sir, hands off. Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy garments. Sic. Help, ve citizens. Re-enter BRUTUS, with the EDILES, and a Men. On both sides more respect. Cit. Down with him, down with him! [Several speak. 2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons! Sic. Hear me, people ;-Peace. speak, speak. Speak, Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties: This is the way to kindle, not to quench. 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; Sic. This deserves death. Bru. Or let us stand to our authority, Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him; Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence Bru. Ediles, seize him. Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield. 'Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's friend, And temperately proceed to what you would Cor. Thou wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee !-Thus violently redress. What should the people do with these bald tri bunes? Bru. Sir, those cold ways, That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous [him, Cor. No: I'll die here. [Drawing his Sword. There's some among you have beheld me fight. ing; [me. Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen draw a while. Cor. On fair ground, I could beat forty of them. Men. I could myself Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic ; Men. Pray you, be gone: I'll try whether my old wit be in request [patch'd He heard the name of death. [A noise within. 2 Pat. I would they were a-bed? The which shall turn you to no further harm, Sic. Speak briefly then; For we are peremptory to despatch This viperous traitor: to eject him hence, Men. Now the good gods forbid Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away. A brand to the end o'the world. Bru. Merely awry: when he did love his It honour'd him. Men. The service of the foot, Being ouce gangren'd, is not then respected Bru. We'll hear no more : Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence; Men. One word more, one word. cess; Lest parties (as he is belov'd) break out, Bru. If it were so, Sic. What do ye talk? Have we not had a taste of his obedience? Men. I would they were in Tyber !-What, the Our Ediles smote? ourselves resisted?-Come : vengeance, Could he not speak them fair? Re-enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS, with the Rabble. Men. Consider this:-He has been bred i'the [Several speak together. In our first way. Men. I'll bring him to you : Let me desire your company. [To the SENATORS Men. Do not cry, havoc, where you should He must come, but hunt With modest warrant. Sic. Sir, how comes it, that you Have holp to make this rescue ? Men. Hear me speak : As I do know the consal's worthiness, Sic. Consul!-what consul? Cit. No, no, no, no, no. Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two; The lowest of the populace, tag, rag, and bobtail. Or what is worst will follow. 1 Sen. Pray you, let's to him. [Exeunt With striving less to be so: Lesser had been You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd Ere they lack'd power to cross you. Cor. Let them hang. Vol. Ay, and burn too. Enter MENENIUS and SENATORS. And you will rather show our general lowts them, For the inheritance of their loves, and safeguard Men. Noble lady! Come, go with us; speak fair: yon may salve so, Vol. I pr'ythee now, my son, Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hard; ness Thy knee bussing the stones, for in such busi- Men. This but done, Even as she speaks, why, all their hearts were yours: Men. Come, come, you have been too rough, For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free something too rough; You must return, and mend it. 1 Sen. There's no remedy; Unless, by not so doing, our good city Vol. Pray be counsel'd: I have a heart as little apt as yours, But yet a brain, that leads my use of anger Men. Well said, noble woman: Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that Cor. What must I do? Men. Return to the tribunes. What then? what then? 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, Cor. Tush, tush! Men. A good demand. Vol. If it be honour, in your wars, to seem Cor. Why force you this? Vol. Because that now it lies you on to speak But with such words that are but roted in I would dissemble with my nature, where As words to 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. Enter COMINIUS. Com. I have been i'the market-place: and, You make strong party, or defend yourself Com. I think 'twill serve, if he Vol. He must, and will: Pr'ythee, now, say you will, and go about it. With my base tongue, give to my noble heart grind it, Com. Come, come, we'll prompt you. Vol. I pr'ythee now, sweet son, as thou hast said, My praises made thee first a soldier, so Cor. Well, I must do't Away, my disposition, and possess me knees, Which bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his Vol. At thy choice then: To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour, |