Cor.
Tullus Aufidius then had made new head?

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

Cor.
So then the Volcians stand but as at first;
Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road
Upon us again.

Com.
They are worn, lord consul, so,
That we shall hardly in our ages see
Their banners wave again.

Cor.
Saw you Aufidius?

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

Cor.
Spoke he of me?

Tit.
He did, my lord.

Cor.
How? what?

Tit.
How often he had met you, sword to 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
Be call'd your vanquisher.

Cor.
At Antium lives he?

Tit.
At Antium.

Cor.
I wish I had a cause to seek him there,
To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. ^note 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,
Against all noble sufferance.

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?

Com.
Hath he not pass'd the nobles ^note, and the commons? ^note

Bru.
Cominius, no.

Cor.
Have I had children's voices?

1. S.
Tribunes, give way; he shall to the 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 ^note?

Bru.
How! I inform them!

Cor.
You ^note are like to do such business.

Bru.
Not unlike,
Each 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.

Sic.
You show too much of that,
For which the people stir: If you will pass
To where you are bound, you must enquire your way,
Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit;
Or never be so noble as a consul,
Nor yoak with him for tribune.

Men.
Let's be calm.

Com.
The people are abus'd:—14Q0981—Set on.—This palt'ring

Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus
Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, lay'd falsly
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. S.
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, ^note let them
Regard me as I do not flatter, and
Therein 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 they have given to beggars.

Men.
Well, no more.

1. S.
No more words, we beseech you.

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 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
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 ^note this Triton of the minnows? mark you
His absolute shall?

Com.
'Twas from the canon.

Cor.
Shall!—
O good, ^note but most unwise patricians, why,
You grave, but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory shall, being but
The horn and noise o'the monster, wants not spirit
To say, he'll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If they have ^note power,14Q0982
Let them have cushions by you; if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity: if you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Then vail your ignorance. You are plebeians,
If they be senators: and they are no less,
When, both your voices blended, the great'st taste
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate;
And such a one as he, who puts his shall,
His popular shall, against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece. By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base: and my soul askes,
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supream, how soon confusion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take

The one by the other.

Com.
Well, on to the market-place.

Cor.
Whoever ^note gave that counsel, to give forth
The corn o'the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd
Sometime in Greece,—

Men.
Well, well, no more of that.

Cor.
(Though there the people had more absolute power)
I say, they nourish'd ^note 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 ^note 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 navel of the state was touch'd,
They would not thread the gates: this kind of service
Did not deserve corn gratis: Being in the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they shew'd
Most valour, spoke not for them: The accusation
Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native14Q0983
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiply'd digest
The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express
What's like to be their words: We did request it;
We are the greater poll, and in true fear
They gave us our demands: Thus we debase
The nature of our seats, and make the rabble
Call our cares, fears: which will in time
Break ope the locks o'the senate, and bring in

The crows to peck the eagles.

Men.
Come, enough.

Bru.
Enough, with over-measure.

Cor.
No, take more:
What may be sworn by, both divine and human,
Seal what I end withall! This double worship,—
Where one part ^note does disdain with cause, the other
Insult without all reason; ^note where gentry, title, wisdom
Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no
Of general ignorance,—it must omit
Real necessities, and give way the while
To unstable sligthness: purpose so bar'd, it follows,
Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseech you,—
You that will be less fearful than discreet;
That love the fundamental part of state,
More than you doubt the change of't; ^note14Q0984 that prefer
A noble life before a long, and wish
To vamp a ^note body with a dangerous physic,
That's sure of death without it,—at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick
The sweet which is their poison: Your dishonour
Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the state
Of that integrity which should become't;
Not having power to do the good it would,
For the ill which doth controul't.

Bru.
He has said enough.

Sic.
He has 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 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 is a consul? no.

Bru.
The ædiles, 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 publick weal: Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer.

Cor.
Hence, old goat.

all.
We'll surety him.

Com.
My aged sir, hands off.

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

Sic.
Help me, citizens ^note. Re-enter Brutus, with Ædiles, and a whole 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!

2. S.
Weapons, weapons, weapons! [they all bustle about Coriolanus.

1. S.
Tribunes,14Q0985 patricians, citizens! what ho!
Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens!

all.
Peace, peace, peace, stay, hold, peace!

Men.
What is about to be? I am out of breath;
Confusion's near ^note; 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 chose for consul.

Men.
Fie, fie, fie!
This is the way to kindle, not to quench.

1. S.
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.

Sen.
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,
In heaps and piles of ruin.

Sic.
This deserves death.

Bru.
Or let us stand to our authority,
Or let us lose it:—We do here pronounce,
Upon the part o'the people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy
Of present death.

Sic.
Therefore, lay hold of him;
Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction cast him

Bru.
Ædiles, seize him.

Cit.
Yield, Marcius, yield.

Men.
Hear me one word, beseech you,
Good tribunes, hear me but a word.

Ædi.
Peace, peace.

Men.
Be that you seem, truly your country's friend, ^note
And temperately proceed to what you would
Thus violently redress.

Bru.
Sir, those cold ways,
That seem like prudent helps, are very pois'nous
Where the disease is violent:—Lay hands upon him,
And bear him to the rock.

Cor.
No; I'll die here. [drawing his Sword.
There's some among you have beheld me fighting;
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.

Men.
Down with that sword;—Tribunes, withdraw a while.

Bru.
Lay hands upon him.

Men.
Help, help Marcius! help,
You that be noble; help him, young, and old!

Cit.
Down with him, down with him! [A great Mutiny: Tribunes, Ædiles, and People are beat in.

Men.
Go, get you to your ^note house; be gone, away,
All will be naught else.

14Q0986Com.
Get you gone.

2. S.
Stand fast;
We have as many friends as enemies.

Men.
Shall it be put to that?

1. S.
The gods forbid!
I pry'thee, noble friend, home to thy house;
Leave us to cure this cause.

Men.
For 'tis a sore, ^note
You cannot tent yourself: Be gone, beseech you.

Com.
Come ^note, sir, along with us.

Men.
I would they were barbarians, (as they are,
Though in Rome litter'd;) not Romans, (as they are not,
Though calv'd i'the porch o'the capitol.)—Be gone;
Put not your worthy rage into your tongue;
One time will owe another.

Cor.
On ^note fair ground,
I could beat forty of them.

Men.
I could myself
Take up a brace o'the best; ^note yea, the two tribunes.

Com.
But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetick;
And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands
Against a falling fabrick.—Will you hence,
Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend
Like interrupted waters, and o'er-bear
What they are us'd to bear.

Men.
Pray you, be gone:
I'll try if my ^note old wit be in request
With those that have but little; this must be patch'd
With cloth of any colour.

Com.
Nay, come away. [Exeunt Cor. Com. and Others.

1. P.
This man has mar'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;
And, being angry, does forget that ever
He heard the name of death. [Noise within.
Here's goodly work!

1. P.
I would they were a-bed!

Men.
I would they were in Tiber! What the vengeance,

Could he not speak 'em fair? Enter Brutus, and Sicinius, with the Rabble, again.

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,
And therefore law shall scorn him further trial
Than the severity of the public power,
Which he so sets at nought.

1. C.
He shall well know,
The noble tribunes are the people's mouths,
And we their hands.

Cit.
He shall, sure, out. ^note14Q0987

Men.
Sirs, ^note—

Sic.
Peace.

Men.
Do not cry ^note, havock, where you should but hunt
With modest warrant.

Sic.
Sir, how comes't, 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.

Bru.
He the 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;
The which shall turn you to no further harm,

Than so much loss of time.

Sic.
Speak briefly then;
For we are peremptory, to dispatch
This viperous traitor: to eject him hence,
Were but one danger; ^note and, to keep him here,
Our certain death; therefore, it is decreed,
He dies to-night.

Men.
Now the good gods forbid,
That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deserving ^note children is enrol'd
In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam
Should now eat up her own!

Sic.
He's a disease, that must be cut away.

Men.
O, he's a limb, that has but a disease;
Mortal, to cut it off; to cure it, easy.
What has he done to Rome, that's worthy death?
Killing our enemies? The ^note blood he hath lost,
(Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath,
By many an ounce) he drop'd it for his country:
And, what is left, to lose it by his country,
Were to us all, that do't, and suffer it,
A brand to the end o'the world.

Sic.
This is clean kam.

Bru.
Meerly awry: When he did love his country,
It honour'd him.

Men.
The service of the foot14Q0988
Being once gangren'd, is not then respected
For what before it was;—

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 unscan'd swiftness, will, too late,
Tye leaden pounds to's heels. Proceed by process;
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?
Our ædiles smot? ourselves resisted?—Come:

Men.
Consider this;—He has been bred i'the wars
Since he could draw a sword, and is ill school'd
In bolted language; meal and bran together
He throws without distinction. Give me leave,
I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him ^note
Where he shall answer, by a lawful form,
(In peace) to his utmost peril.

1. S.
Noble tribunes,
It is the humane way: the other course
Will prove too bloody; and the end of it
Unknown to the beginning.

Sic.
Noble Menenius,
Be you then as the people's officer:—
Masters, lay down your weapons.

Bru.
Go not home.

Sic.
Meet on the market-place:—We'll attend 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: He must come, or what
Is worst will follow.

1. S.
Pray you, let us to him. [Exeunt.

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