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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 navel of the state was touch'd,
They would not thread the gates: this kind of service
Did not deserve corn gratis: being i' the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd
Most valour, spoke not for them. Th' accusation
Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiplied 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.

No, take more:

Bru. Enough, with over-measure.
Cor.

What may be sworn by, both divine and human,

Seal what I end withal! This double worship,

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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

Of general ignorance, it must omit

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,

That love the fundamental part of state,

More than you doubt the change on 't, that prefer
A noble life before a long, and wish

To jump a 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 it,
Not having the power to do the good it would,
For th' ill which doth control it.

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.

Manifest treason.

Bru.

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Sic. Go, call the people; [Exit Ædile.] in whose name,

myself

Attach thee as a traitorous innovator,

A foe to the public weal. Obey, I charge thee,

And follow to thine answer.

Cor.

Sen. We'll surety him.

Com.

Hence, old goat!

Aged Sir, hands off.

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

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Re-enter the Edile, with others, and a Rabble of Citizens. Men. On both sides more respect.

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Weapons! weapons! weapons! [They all bustle about CORIOLANUS

Tribunes, patricians, citizens! - what ho!
Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens!

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:

Speak, good Sicinius.

Sic.

Hear me! people, peace!

Cit. Let's hear our tribune: Peace! Speak, speak, speak.

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Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties:

Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,

Whom late you have nam'd for consul.

Men.

Fie, fie, fie!

This is the way to kindle, not to quench.
Sen. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat.
Sic. What is the city, but the people?

Cit.

The people are the city.

True,

Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd

The people's magistrates.

Cit.

You so remain.

Men. And so are like to do.

Com. 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.

Adiles, seize him.

Hear me one word.

Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield.

Men.

Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.

Edi. Peace, peace!

Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's friend,

And temperately proceed to what you would

Thus violently redress.

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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 Marcius, help,

You that be noble; help him, young, and old!

Cit.

Men.

Down with him! down with him!

[In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ediles, and the People, are beat in.

Go, get you to your house: be gone, away!

All will be naught else.

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I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy house;
Leave us to cure this cause.

Men.

You cannot tent yourself.

For 't is a sore upon us,

Begone, 'beseech you.

Com. Come, 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!

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Put not your worthy rage into your tongue:
One time will owe another.

Cor.

I could beat forty of them.

Men.

On fair ground,

I could myself

Be gone;

Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two tribunes.

Com. But now 't is odds beyond arithmetic;

And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands
Against a falling fabric. Will you hence,
Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend
Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear
What they are used to bear.

Men.

Pray you,

be gone.

I'll try whether my old wit be in request
With those that have but little: this must be patch'd
With cloth of any colour.

Com.

1 Pat.

Nay, come away.

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS, COMINIUS, and Others.

This man has marr'd his fortune.

Men. His nature is too noble for the world:

He would not flatter Neptune for his trident,

Or Jove for 's 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.

Here's goodly work!

2 Part.

[4 noise within.

What, the vengeance,

I would they were a-bed!

Men. I would they were in Tyber! Could he not speak them fair?

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