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, all 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, 'tis 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, 'twill serve, if he

He must, and will:—

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

Cor. Must I go show them my unbarb'd 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 it 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

up

That babies Julls asleep! The smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks; and school-boys' tears take
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.

Vol.
At thy choice then :
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 a 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, further.

Vol.

[Exit.

[self

Com. Away, the tribunes do attend you: arm your

Do your will.

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:-Pray you, let us go:
Let them accuse me by invention, I
Will answer in mine honour.

Men.

Ay, but mildly.

[Exeunt.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then; mildly.

SCENE 111. 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.

Enter an Edile.

What, will he come?

Edi.

He's coming.

Bru.

How accompanied?

Edi. With old Menenius, and those senators That always favoured him.

Sic.

Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procur'd,
Set down by the poll?

Edi.

I have; 'tis ready, here.
Sic. Have you collected them by tribes?
Edi.

I have.

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

Edi.

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.

Edi.

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 Edile.

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.

Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, Senators, and Patricians.

Sic. Well, here he comes.

you.

Men. Calmly, I do beseech 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 And not our streets with war!

1 Sen.

Amen, amen!

Re-enter Edile, with Citizens.

Men. A noble wish.

Sic. Draw near, ye people.

peace,

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 further than this present? Must all determine here?:

If

Sic.

I do demand,

you submit you to the people's 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 show
Like graves i'the holy church-yard.

E

Cor.

Scars to move laughter only.

Scratches with briars,

Men.
Consider further,
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: '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

Yourself into a power tyrannical;

For which, you are a traitor to the people.
Cor. How! traitor?

Men.

Nay; temperately: Your promise. Cor. The fires i'the lowest hell fold in the people! Call me their traitor?—Thou injurious tribune! Within thine eyes sat 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?

Cit. To the rock with him; to the rock with him! Sic.

We need not put new matter to his charge:

Peace.

What you have seen him do, and heard him speak,
Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,
Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying
Those whose great power must try him; even this,
So criminal, and in such capital kind,

Deserves the extremest death.

Bru.

Sery'd well for Rome,

But since he hath