Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy garments. Sic. Help, ye citizens. Re-enter BRUTUS, with the ÆDILES, and a Rabble of CITIZENS. Men. On both sides more respect. Sic. Here's he, that would Take from you all your power. Bru. Seize him, Ædiles, Cit. Down with him, down with him! [Several speak. 2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons! 1 They all bustle about Coriolanus. Tribunes, patricians, citizens!-What, ho!- Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace! Men. What is about to be? I am out of breath; Confusion's near: I cannot speak:-You, tribunes To the people, -Coriolanus, patience : Speak, good Sicinius. Sic. Hear me, people; -Peace. Cit. Let's hear our tribune:-Peace. Speak, speak, speak. Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties: Marcius would have all from you; Marcius, Whom late you have named 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; To bring the roof to the foundation; And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges, Bru. Or let us stand to our authority, Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him; Into destruction cast him. Bru. Ædiles, seize him. Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield. Men. Hear me one word, Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. Edi. Peace, peace. Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's friend, And temperately proceed to what you would Bru. Sir, those cold ways, That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonbus him, And bear him to the rock. draw a while. Bru. Lay hands upon him. Men. Help, Marcius! Help, You that be noble; help him, young, and old! [In this Mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ædiles, Men. Go, get you to your house; be gone away, All will be naught else. 2 Sen. Get you gone. Cor. Stand fast; We have as many friends as enemies. Men. Shall it be put to that? 1 Sen. The gods forbid ! I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy house; Men. For 'tis a sore upon us, You cannot tent yourself: Begone, 'beseech you. Cor. I would they were barbarians (as they are, not, Though calved i' the porch o' the Capitol), • From whence criminals were thrown, and dashed to pieces. 1 Men. Be gone; Put not your worthy rage into your tongue; One time will owe another. 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 What they are used to bear. Men. Pray you, be gone. I'll try whether my old wit be in request With cloth of any colour. Com. Nay, come away. [Exeunt Cor. Com. and others. 1 Put. 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: What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent; Here's goodly work! 2 Pat. I would they were a-bed! [A Noise within. Men. I would they were in Tyber!-What, the vengeance, Could he not speak them fair? Re-enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS, with the Rabble. Sic. Where is this viper, That would depopulate the city, and Be every man himself? Men. You worthy tribunes, Sic. He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock With rigorous hands; he hath resisted law, • The lowest of the populace; tag, rag, and bob1 Cit. He shall well know, The noble tribunes are the people's mouths, And we their hands. tail Cit. He shall, sure on't*. Men. Sir, Sic. Peace. [Several speak together. Men. Do not cry, havockt, where you should but hunt With modest warrant. Sic. Sir, how comes it, that you As I do know the consul's worthiness, Sic. Consul!---What consul? 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: 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. Mortal, to cut it off; to cure it, easy. A brand to the end o' the world. * Be sure on't. VOL. IV. + The signal for slaughter. Hhh Sic. This is clean kam*. Bru. Merelyt awry: when he did love his country, It honour'd him. Men. The service of the foot Being once gangrened, 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 swiftnesst, will, too late, Proceed by proTie leaden pounds to his heels. Proceed cess; Lest parties (as he is beloved) break out, Bru. If it were so, Sic. What do ye talk? Have we not had a taste of his obedience? wars Since he could draw a sword, and is ill school'd 1 Sen. Noble tribunes, It is the humane way: the other course Sic. Noble Menenius, Be you then as the people's officer: Bru. Go not home. Sic. Meet on the market-place:-We'll atten you there: Where, if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed In our first way. Men. I'll bring him to you : Let me desire your company. [To the Senators. He must come. Quite awry. + Absolutely. Finely sifted. |