And in the power of us the tribunes, we,
Even from this instant, banish him our city;
In peril of precipitation

From off the rock Tarpeian, never more

To enter our Rome's gates: I' the people's name, I say, it shall be so.

Cit.

It shall be so,

It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd,

And so it shall be.

Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common friends;

Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing.

Com. Let me speak: I have been consul, and can show from Rome, Her enemies marks upon me. I do love My country's good, with a respect more tender, More holy, and profound, than mine own life, My dear wife's estimate, than if I would Speak that

Sic.

We know your drift: Speak what? Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd,

As enemy to the people, and his country:

It shall be so.

Cit.

It shall be so, it shall be so.

I

Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath I

hate

As reek' o'the rotten fens, whose loves I prize
As the dead carcases 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.

Ed. 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, As he hath follow'd you, with all despite; Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard Attend us through the city.

Cit. Come, come, let us see him out at gates;

Enter CORIOLANUS, VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, ME

NENIUS, COMINIUS, and several

young

Patricians.

Cor. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell:

the beast

With many heads butts me away. - Nay, mother;

3 Subdued.

Where is your ancient courage? you were us'd
To say, extremity was the trier of spirits;
That common chances common men could bear;
That, when the sea was calm, all boats alike
Show'd mastership in floating: fortune's blows,
When most struck home, being gentle wounded,

craves

A noble cunning: you were us'd to load me
With precepts, that would make invincible
The heart that conn'd them.

Vir. O heavens! O heavens !

Cor.

Nay, I pr'ythee, woman, Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in

Rome,

And occupations perish!

Cor.
What, what, what!
I shall be lov'd when I am lack'd! Nay, mother,
Resume that spirit, when you were wont to say,
If you had been the wife of Hercules,

Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd
Your husband so much sweat. Cominius,

Droop not; adieu : — Farewell, my wife! my mother!

I'll do well yet. Thou old and true Menenius,
Thy tears are salter than a younger man's,
And venomous to thine eyes.

general

My sometime

I have seen thee stern, and thou hast oft beheld Heart-hard'ning spectacles; tell these sad women, 'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes,

As 'tis to laugh at them. My mother, you wot well,

My hazards still have been your solace: and
Believe 't not lightly, (though I go alone

Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen

Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen,) your

son

+ Foolish.

Will, or exceed the common, or be caught
With cautelous' baits and practice.

Vol.

6

My first son, Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius With thee a while: Determine on some course, More than a wild exposture' to each chance That starts i' the way before thee.

Cor.

O the gods!

Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of us, And-we of thee: so if the time thrust forth A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send O'er the vast world, to seek a single man; And lose advantage, which doth ever cool I' the absence of the needer.

Cor.

Fare ye well:
Thou hast years upon thee; and thou art too full
Of the war's surfeits, to go rove with one

That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.
Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and
My friends of noble touch, when I am forth,
Bid me farewell, and smile. I pray you, come
While I remain above the ground, you shall
Hear from me still; and never of me aught
But what is like me formerly.

Men.

That's worthily As any ear can hear. Come, let 's not weep. If I could shake off but one seven years

From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, I'd with thee every foot.

Cor. Come.

Give me thy hand;

[Exeunt.

5 Insidious.

6 Noblest. 7 Exposure. 8 True metal.

1

SCENE II.

A Street near the Gate.

Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an Edile.

Sic. Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.

The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided In his behalf.

Bru.

Now we have shown our power,

Let us seem humbler after it is done,
Than when it was a doing.

Bid them home:

Sic.
Say, their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.

Bru.

Dismiss them home.

[Exit Edile.

Keep on your way.

Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague

o'the gods

Requite your love!

Men.

Peace, peace; be not so loud.' Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should

hear,

Nay, and you shall hear some. -Will

?

you be gone [To BRUTUS.

Vir. You shall stay too: [To SICIN.] I would, I

had the power

To say so to my husband.