Bru.
In this point charge him home, that he affects
Tyrannic power: if he evade us there,
Inforce him with his envy to the people,
And that the spoil got on the Antiates
Was ne'er distributed. What, will he come? Enter an Ædile.

Æd.
He's coming.

Bru.
How accompanied?

Æd.
With old Menenius, and those senators
That always favour'd him.

Sic.
Have you a catalogue
Of all the voices that we have procur'd,
Set down by th' poll?

Æd.
I have; 'tis ready, here.

Sic.
Have you collected them by tribes?

Æd.
I have.

Sic.
Assemble presently the people hither,
And when they hear me say, It shall be so,
I'th' right and strength o'th' commons; be it either
For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them,
If I say fine, cry fine; if death, cry death,
Insisting on the old prerogative
And power i'th' truth o'th' cause.

Æd.
I will inform them.

Bru.
And when such time they have begun to cry,
Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd
Inforce the present execution
Of what we chance to sentence.

Æd.
Very well.

Sic.
Make them be strong, and ready for this hint,
When we shall hap to give't them.

Bru.
Go about it. [Exit Ædile.
Put him to choler streight; he hath been us'd
Ever to conquer, and to have his word
Of contradiction. Being once chaft, he cannot
Be rein'd again to temp'rance; then he speaks
What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks
With us to break his neck. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, and Cominius, with others.

Sic.
Well, here he comes.

Men.
Calmly I do beseech you.

Cor.
Ay, as an hostler, that for the poorest piece
Will bear the knave by th' volume: the honour'd Gods
Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice
Supply with worthy men, plant love amongst you
Through our large temples with the shews of peace,
And not our streets with war.

1 Sen.
Amen, amen.

Men.
A noble wish. Enter the Ædile with the Plebeians.

Sic.
Draw near, ye people.

Æd.
List to your Tribunes: audience;
Peace, I say.

Cor.
First, hear me speak.

Both Tri.
Well, say: peace, ho.

Cor.
Shall I be charg'd no further than this present?
Must all determine here?

Sic.
I do demand,
If you submit you to the peoples voices,
Allow their officers, and are content
To suffer lawful censure for such faults
As shall be prov'd upon you?

Cor.
I am content.

Men.
Lo, citizens, he says he is content:
The warlike service he has done, consider;
Think on the wounds his body bears, which shew
Like graves i'th' holy church-yard.

Cor.
Scratches with briars, scars to move
Laughter only.

Men.
Consider further:
That when he speaks not like a citizen,
You find him like a soldier; do not take
His rougher actions for malicious sounds:
But, as I say, such as become a soldier.
Rather than envy, you—

Com.
Well, well, no more.

Cor.
What is the matter,
That being past for Consul with full voice,
I'm so dishonour'd, that the very hour
You take it off again?

Sic.
Answer to us.

Cor.
Say then: 'tis true, I ought so.

Sic.
We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take
From Rome all season'd office, and to wind
Your self unto a power tyrannical,
For which you are a traitor to the people.

Cor.
How? traitor?

Men.
Nay, temperately: your promise.

Cor.
The fires i'th' lowest hell fold in the people!
Call me their traitor! thou injurious Tribune!
Within thine eyes sate twenty thousand deaths,
In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in
Thy lying tongue both numbers; I would say
Thou liest unto thee, with a voice as free,
As I do pray the Gods.

Sic.
Mark you this, people?

All.
To th' rock with him.

Sic.
Peace:
We need not put new matter to his charge:
What you have seen him do, and heard him speak,
Beating your officers, cursing your selves,
Opposing laws with stroaks, and here defying
Those whose great power must try him, even this
So criminal, and in such capital kind,
Deserves th' extreamest death.

Bru.
But since he hath
Serv'd well for Rome—

Cor.
What do you prate of service?

Bru.
I talk of that, that know it.

Cor.
You?—

Men.
Is this the promise that you made your mother?

Com.
Know, I pray you—

Cor.
I'll know no farther:
Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,
Vagabond exile, fleaing, pent to linger
But with a grain a-day, I would not buy
Their mercy at the price of one fair word,
Nor check my courage for what they can give,
To have't with saying, good-morrow.

Sic.
For that he has

(As much as in him lyes) from time to time
Envy'd against the people: seeking means
To pluck away their power; as now at last
Giv'n hostile stroaks, and that not in the presence
Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers
That do distrubute it, in the name o'th' people,
And in the power of us the Tribunes, we
(Ev'n from this instant) banish him our city,
In peril of percipitation
From off the rock Tarpeian, never more
To enter our Rome's gates. I'th' people's name,
I say it shall be so.

All.
It shall be so, it shall be so; let him away:
He's banish'd, and it shall be so.

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 shew 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, her womb's increase,
And treasure of my loyns: then 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.

All.
It shall be so, it shall be so.

Cor.
You common cry of curs, whose breath I hate,
As reek o'th' rotten fenns; whose loves I prize,
As the dead carkasses 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 but reservation of your selves
Still your own enemies) deliver you
As most abated captives to some nation
That won you without blows. Despising then
For you, the city, thus I turn my back:
There is a world elsewhere— [Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, and others. [The people shout, and throw up their caps.

Ædile.
The people's enemy is gone, is gone!

All.
Our enemy is banish'd; he is gone! Hoo, hoo!

Sic.
Go see him out at gates, and follow him
As he hath follow'd you; with all despight
Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard
Attend us through the city.

All.
Come, come; let's see him out at the gates; come.
The Gods preserve our noble Tribunes; come. [Exeunt.

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