Men.

Noble lady! you may salve so, No what is dangerous present, but the loss

Come, go with us: speak fair;

Of what is past.

Vol.

I pr'ythee now,

my son,

Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand;

And thus far having stretch'd it, (here be with them)
Thy knee bussing the stones, (for in such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant
More learned than the ears) waving thy head,
Which often, thus, correcting thy stout heart,
Now humble as the ripest mulberry

That will not hold the handling: or say to them,
Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils,
Hast not the soft way, which thou dost confess,
Were fit for thee to use as they to claim,
In asking their good-loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far
As thou hast power, and person.

Men.

This but done,

Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours;
For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free

As words to little purpose.

Vol.

Pr'ythee now,

Go, and be rul'd; although, I know, thou hadst rather

Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf,

Than flatter him in a bower.

Here is Cominius.

Enter COMINIUS.

Com. I have been i' the market-place; and, Sir, 't is fit You make strong party, or defend yourself

By calmness, or by absence: all's in anger.

Men. Only fair speech.

Com.

Can thereto frame his spirit.

Vol.

I think, 't will serve; if he

He must, and will.

Pr'ythee now, say you will, and go about it.

Cor. Must I go show them my unbarbed sconce?
Must I with my base tongue give to my noble heart
A lie, that it must bear? Well, I will do 't:
Yet were there but this single plot to lose,

This mould of Marcius, they to dust should grind it,
And throw 't against the wind. - To the market-place!
You have put me now to such a part, which never

I shall discharge to the life.

Com.

Come, come, we 'll prompt you.

Vol. I pr'ythee now, sweet son: as thou hast said,

My praises made thee first a soldier, so,

To have my praise for this, perform a part

Thou hast not done before.

Cor.

Well, I must do 't.

Away, my disposition, and possess me

Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my drum, into a pipe

Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice

That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks; and school-boys' tears take up
The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue

Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd knees,
Who bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms!

I will not do 't,

Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth,
And by my body's action teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.

At thy choice, then:

Vol.
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin: let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness; for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list.
Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me,
But owe thy pride thyself.

Cor.

Pray, be content:

Mother, I am going to the market-place;

Chide me no more.

I'll mountebank their loves,

Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going.
Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul,
Or never trust to what my tongue can do

I' the way of flattery farther.

Com. Away! the tribunes do attend you: arm yourself
To answer mildly; for they are prepar'd

With accusations, as I hear, more strong
Than are upon you yet.

Cor. The word is, mildly:
Let them accuse me by invention, I
Will answer in mine honour.

Men.

[Exit.

pray you, let us go.

Ay, but mildly.

[Exeunt.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then; mildly.

SCENE III.

The Same. The Forum.

Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.

Bru. In this point charge him home; that he affects

Tyrannical power: if he evade us there,

Enforce him with his envy to the people;

And that the spoil got on the Antiates

Was ne'er distributed.

How accompanied?

Ed. With old Menenius, and those senators

That always favour'd him.

Ed.

I have.

Sic. Assemble presently the people hither:
And when they hear me say, "It shall be so,

I' the right and strength o' the 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' the truth o' the cause.

Ed.

I shall inform them.

Bru. And when such time they have begun to cry,

Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd

Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentence.

Ed.

Very well.

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

Bru.
Go; about it.
Put him to choler straight. He hath been us'd
Ever to conquer, and to have his worth

Of contradiction: being once chaf'd, he cannot

Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks

What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks
With us to break his neck.

[Exit Edile.

Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, Senators, and

Patricians.

Sic. Well, here he comes.

Men.

Calmly, I do beseech you.

Cor. Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume. The honour'd gods

Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice

Supplied with worthy men! plant love among us!
Throng our large temples with the shows of peace,
And not our streets with war!

66

Re-enter Edile, with Citizens.

Sic. Draw near, ye people.

Edi. 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 farther than this present? Must all determine here?

I do demand,

Sic.
If you submit you to the people's voices,
Allow their officers, and are content
To suffer lawful censusre 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 upon the wounds his body bears, which show

Like graves i' the holy churchyard.

Cor.

Scars to move laughter only.

Scratches with briars;

Men.
Consider farther,
That when he speaks not like a citizen,
You find him like a soldier. Do not take
His rougher accents 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 pass'd for consul with full voice,

I am so dishonour'd that the very hour

You take it off again?

Sic.

Answer to us.

Cor. Say then: 't is true, I ought so.

Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take

From Rome all season'd office, and to wind

Yourself into a power tyrannical;

For which you are a traitor to the people.

Cor. How! Traitor?