Coriolanus.
Tullius Aufidius then had made new head?

Lar.
He had, my lord, and that it was which caus'd
Our swifter composition.

Cor.
So then the Volscians stand but as at first,
Ready when time shall prompt them, to make inroad
Upon's again.

Com.
They're worn, lord Consul, so,
That we shall hardly in our ages see
Their banners wave again.

Cor.
Saw you Aufidius?

Lar.
On safe-guard he came to me, and did curse
Against the Volscians, for they had so vilely
Yielded the town; he is retir'd to Antium.

Cor.
Spoke he of me?

Lar.
He did, my lord.

Cor.
How?—what?—

Lar.
How often he had met you sword, to sword:
That of all things upon the earth be hated
Your person most* ^note: that he would pawn his fortunes
To hopeless restitution, so he might
Be call'd your vanquisher.

Cor.
At Antium lives he?

Lar.
At Antium.

Cor.
I wish I had a cause to seek him there,
To oppose his hatred fully. Enter Sicinius and Brutus.
Behold these are the tribunes of the people,
The tongues o'th' common mouth: I do despise them,
For they do prank them in authority,
Against all noble sufferance.

Sic.
Pass no further.

Cor.
Hah!—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 childrens voices?

Men.
Tribunes, give way; he shall to th' market-place.

Bru.
The people are incens'd against him.

Sic.
Stop,
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 calm.

Cor.
It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot,
To curb the will of the nobility:
Suffer't, and live with such as cannot rule,
Nor ever will be rul'd.

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.
Why, this was known before.

Bru.
Not to them all.

Cor.
Have you inform'd them, since?

Bru.
How! I inform them!

Cor.
Yes, you are like enough to do such business.

Bru.
Not unlike, either way, to better yours.

Cor.
Why then should I be consul? by yon clouds,
Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me
Your fellow-tribune* ^note.

Com.
The people are abus'd, set on; this paltring
Becomes not Rome: nor has Coriolanus
Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsly
I'th' 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.

Cor.
Now as I live, I will—
As for my nobler friends, I crave their pardons:
But for the mutable rank-scented many,
Let them regard me, as I do not flatter,

And there behold themselves: I say again,
In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate,
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plow'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 we have given to beggars.

Men.
Well, no more—

Cor.
How!—no more!
As for my country, I have shed my blood,
Not fearing outward force; so shall my lungs
Coin words till their decay, against those measles
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet seek
The very way to catch them.

Bru.
You speak o'th' people, Sir, as if you were
A God to punish, not as being a man
Of their infirmity.

Sic.
'Twere well we let
The people know't.

Men.
What, what! his choler?

Cor.
Choler!
Were I as patient as the midnight sleep,
By Jove, 'twould be my mind.

Sic.
It is a mind
That shall remain a poison where it is,
Not poison any further.

Cor.
Shall remain?
Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you,
His absolute shall?
Shall!—

Com.
Well—on to th' market-place.

Cor.
Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth
The corn o'th' storehouse, gratis, as 'twas us'd,
Sometimes in Greece—

Men.
Well, well, no more of that.

Cor.
I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed
The ruin of the state.

Bru.
Shall th' people give
One that speaks thus, their voice?

Sic.
H'as spoken like a traitor, and shall answer
As traitors do.

Cor.
Thou wretch! despight o'er-whelm thee!
What should the people do with these bald tribunes?
On whom depending, their obedience fails
To th' 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, That must be law,
And throw their power i'th' dust* ^note.

Bru.
Manifest treason—

Sic.
This a consul? no.

Bru.
The Ædiles, ho! let him be apprehended.

Sic.
Go, call the people, in whose name myself
Attach thee as a traiterous innovator:
A foe to th' public weal. Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer. [Laying hold on Coriolanus.

Cor.
Hence, old goat!
Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones
Out of thy garments.

Sic.
Help me, citizens.

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