Re-enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS, with the Rabble. Sic. Men. and Where is this viper, 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 farther trial Than the severity of the public power, Which he so sets at nought. 1 Cit. He shall well know. The noble tribunes are the people's mouths, And we their hands. Cit. He shall, sure on't. Men. Sir, Sir, Sic. Peace! Men. Do not cry havock, where you should but hunt Men. The consul Coriolanus. Cit. No, no, no, no, no. He a consul! Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people, I may be heard, I would crave a word or two; The which shall turn you to no farther harm, Sic. Speak briefly then; For we are peremptory to despatch This viperous traitor. To eject him hence, Were but one danger, and to keep him here, Men. Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away. What has he done to Rome that 's worthy death? Were to us all, that do 't and suffer it, A brand to th' end o' the world. Sic. This is clean kam. Bru. Merely awry. When he did love his country, It honour'd him. Being once gangren'd, is not then respected For what before it was. Bru. We'll hear no more. Parsue him to his house, and pluck him thence, Spread farther. Men. One word more, one word. This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unscann'd swiftness, will, too late, Lest parties (as he is belov'd) break out, And sack great Rome with Romans. Bru. Sic. What do ye talk? If it were so, Have we not had a taste of his obedience? Our Ediles smote? 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 boulted language; meal and bran together I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him in peace In peace, to his utmost peril. 1 Sen. Noble tribunes, It is the humane way: the other course Sic. Noble Menenius, Be you, then, as the people's officer. Go not home. Bru. In our first way. Let me desire your company. [To the Senators.] He must come, Or what is worst will follow. 1 Sen. Pray you, let's to him. SCENE II. A Room in CORIOLANUS'S House. Enter CORIOLANUS, and Patricians. Cor. Let them pull all about mine ears: present me Cor. I muse my mother Does not approve me farther, who was wont [Exeunt. In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder, To speak of peace, or war. I talk of you: [TO VOLUMNIA. Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me The man I am. Vol. O, Sir, Sir, Sir! I would have had you put your power well on, Cor. Let go. Vol. You might have been enough the man you are, With striving less to be so: lesser had been The thwartings of your dispositions, if You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd, Ere they lack'd power to cross you. Cor. Vol. Ay, and burn too. Let them hang. Enter MENENIUS, and Senators. Men. Come, come; you have been too rough, something too rough: You must return, and mend it. 1 Sen. Unless, by not so doing, our good city Cleave in the midst, and perish. Vol. I have a heart as little apt as yours, There's no remedy; Pray be counsell'd. But yet a brain, that leads my use of anger To better vantage. Men. Well said, noble woman. Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that The violent fit o' the time craves it as physic For the whole state, I would put mine armour on, Cor. What must I do? Well, what then? what then? Men. Return to the tribunes. Men. Repent what you have spoke. Cor. For them?—I cannot do it to the gods; Must I then do 't to them? Vol. You are too absolute; Though therein you can never be too noble, But when extremities speak. I have heard you say, I' the war do grow together: grant that, and tell me, That they combine not there? Cor. Men. Tush, tush! A good demand. Vol. If it be honour in your wars to seem With honour, as in war, since that to both Cor. Why force you this? Vol. Because that now it lies you on to speak Your tongue, though but bastards, and syllables I would dissemble with my nature, where, Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles; How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon 'em, |