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; And, on a safer judgment, all revoke 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 mock us. 2 Cit. Not one amongst us save yourself, but says He us'd us scornfully: he should have show'd us His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for his country. 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? Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness To yield your voices ? 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, And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd Either his gracious promise, which you might, As cause had call'd you up, have held him to; Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature, Which easily endures not article Tying him to aught: so, putting him to rage, You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler, And pass'd him unelected. 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. How youngly he began to serve his country, Sic. One thus descended, That hath beside well in his person wrought Bru. Say, you ne'er had don't, (Harp on that still,) but by our putting on : : 9 And presently, when you have drawn your num Repair to the Capitol. [ber, Cit. We will so almost all [Several speak. Repent in their election. [Exeunt CITIZENS. Bru. Let them go on : This mutiny were better put in hazard, If, as his nature is, he fall in rage Sic. To the Capitol : [ple; Come; we'll be there before the stream o'the peoAnd this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own Which we have goaded ¶ onward. [Exeunt. Com. They are worn, lord consul, so, That we shall hardly in our ages see Their banners wave again. Cor. Saw you Aufidius? Lurt. 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 ;— Men. Not now, not now. 1 Sen. Not in this heat, Sir, now. Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My noble friends, I crave their pardons : 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 fortunes To hopeless restitution, so he might Mar. At Antium lives he? Lart. At Antium. 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, 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? The people cry, you mock'd them; and, of late, Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. Cor. Have you inform'd them since? Cor. You are like to do such business. Each way to better yours. Cor. Why then should I be consul? By you clouds, Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me Sic. You show too much of that, Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit; Nor yoke with him for tribune. Men. Let's be calm. Regard me as I do not flatter, and In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate 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. 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 punish, not A man of their infirmity. Sic. 'Twere well, We let the people know't. Men. What, what? his choler? Cor. Choler! O good but most unwise patricians, why, That with his peremptory shall, being but To say, he'll turn your current in a ditch, beians, taste If they be senators: and they are no less, 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 solute power,) I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed The ruin of the state. Cockle is a weed which grows up with corn. Scab The smallest fish. ff According to law. 1 Thoughtless. 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, 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 To peck the eagles.— 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. Cor. Thou wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee! What should the people do with these bald tribunes ? On whom depending, their obedience fails When what's not meet, but what must be, was law, Then were they chosen in a better hour, Bru. Manifest treason. Sic. This a consul? no. Bru. The Ediles, ho!-Let him be apprehended. Sic. Go, call the people; [Exit BRUTUS.] in whose name, myself Attach thee, as a traitorous innovator, A foe to the public weal: Obey, I charge thee, And follow to thine answer. [Several speak. 2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [They all bustle about CORIOLANUS. Tribunes, patricians, citizens !--what ho! Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens ! Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace! Men. What is about to be ?-I am out of breath: [bunes Confusion's near: I cannot speak :-You, triTo the people,-Coriolanus, patience :-Speak, good Sicinius. Sic. Hear me, people ;-Peace. speak, speak. Speak, Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties : Marcius would have all from you; Marcius, Whom late you have nam'd for consul. 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; 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 Into destruction cast him. 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. No: I'll die here. [Drawing his Sword. There's some among you have beheld me fighting; [me. Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen Men. Down with that sword,-Tribunes, withdraw a while. Bru. Lay hands upon him. You that be noble; help him, young and old! 2 Sen. Get you gone. From whence criminals were thrown, and dashed to pieces. 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 two tribunes. Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic; And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands Against a falling fabric.-Will you hence, Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear What they are used to bear. Men. Pray you, be gone: I'll try whether my old wit be in request [patch'd [Exeunt COR. COM. and others. 1 Pat. This man has marr'd his fortune. Men. His nature is too noble for the world: He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's his mouth : [vent; What his breast forges, that his tongue must And being angry, does forget that ever He heard the name of death. [A noise within. Here's goodly work! 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. Bru. Merely awry: when he did love his country, It honour'd him. Men. The service of the foot, Being once gangren'd, is not then respected Bru. We'll hear no more : Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence Lest his infection, being of catching nature, Spread further. Men. One word more, one word. This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unscann'd swiftness, wili, too late, Tie leaden pounds to his heels. Proceed by pro cess; Lest parties (as he is belov'd) break out, And sack great Rome with Romans. 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 : 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 consul's worthiness, So can I name his faults : Sic. Consul!-what consul? Men. The consul Coriolanus. Cit. No, no, no, no, no. Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people, I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two; The lowest of the populace, tag, rag, and bobtail. T Be sure on't. The signal for slaughter. Or what is worst will follow. 1 Sen. Pray you, let's to him. [Exeunt. And you will rather show our general lowts⚫ For the inheritance of their loves, and safeguard 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; 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. Prav 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. 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 • Wonder. Subduc. 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 CоMINIUS. 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 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 ine knees, Which bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like bis Vol. At thy choice then: To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour, Common clown. Unshaven head. |