Men. Let's be calm. -This Com. The people are abus'd:- Set on.— palt'ring Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus 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 nobler friends, I crave their pardons : 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.. How! no more? 1 Sen. No more words, we beseech you. Cor. As for my country I have shed my blood, Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs Coin words till their decay, against those meazels Which we disdain should tetter' us, yet sought The very way to catch them. Bru. You speak o'the people, As if you were a god to punish, not Sic. We let the people know't. 'Twere well, What, what? his choler? Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, Sic. It is a mind, That shall remain a poison where it is, Cor. Shall remain ! Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you His absolute shall? Com. 'Twas from the canon.' Shall! thus O good, but most unwise patricians, why, Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians, When both your voices blended, the greatest taste Com. Well-on to the market-place. Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth ́ The corn o' the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd Sometime in Greece, 2 According to law. Men. Well, well, no more of that. Cor. (Though there the people had more absolute power,) I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed 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 recompence; resting well assur'd They ne'er did service for 't: Being press'd to the war, Even when the vitals, of the state were touch'd, They would not thread the gates: this kind of service Did not deserve corn gratis: being i' the war, Men. Come, enough. Bru. Enough, with over-measure. No, take more: Cor. What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Seal what I end withal! - This double worship, 3 Motive, no doubt was Shakspeare's word. 4 Number. 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 Real necessities, and give way the while To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows, Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseech you, You that will be less fearful than discreet; More than you doubt the change of't; that prefer A noble life before a long, and wish 6 To jump a body with a dangerous physick at once pluck out 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, Then were they chosen; in a better hour, Let what is meet, be said it must be meet, And throw their power i' the dust. Bru. Manifest treason. Sic. This a consul? no. Bru. The Ediles, ho!- Let him be appre Sic. Go, call the people; [Exit BRUTUS.] in whose name, myself Attach thee, as a traitorous innovator, A foe to the publick weal: Obey, I charge thee, Cor. Hence, old goat! 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, ye citizens. Re-enter BRUTUS, with the Ediles, and a Rabble of [Several speak. Cit. Down with him, down with him! 2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [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: 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 nam'd for consul. Fye, fye, fye! Men. |