40 To jump a body with a dangerous physick 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, And throw their power i' the dust. Bru. Manifest treason. Sic. This a consul? no. Bru. The ædiles, ho!-Let him be apprehended. Sic. Go, call the people; [Exit Brutus.] in whose name, myself Attach thee, as a traitorous innovator, A foe to the publick weal: Obey, I charge thee, And follow to thine answer. Cor. Hence, old goat! Aged sir, hands off. Sen. and Pat. We'll surety him. Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy garments. Sic. Help, ye citizens. Re-enter BRUTUS, with the Ediles, and a rabble of [Several speak. Cit. Down with him, down with him! 2 Sen. 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. 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. This is the way to kindle, not to quench. Fie, fie, fie! 1 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. Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat; To bring the roof to the foundation; And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges, Sic. This deserves death. Bru. Or let us stand to our authority, Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him; Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence Into destruction cast him. Bru. Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield. Men. Ediles, seize him. Hear me one word. 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. Bru. Sir, those cold ways, That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous Where the disease is violent:-Lay hands upon him, And bear him to the rock. Cor. No; I'll die here. [Drawing his sword. 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 Men. him. Help, help Marcius! help, You that be noble; help him, young, and old! Cit. Down with him, down with him! [In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ediles, and the people, are beat in. Men. Go, get you to your house; be gone, away, All will be nought else. 2 Sen. Cor. Get you gone. Stand fast; We have as many friends as enemies. Men. Shall it be put to that? 1 Sen. The gods forbid! I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy house; Leave us to cure this cause. Men. For 'tis a sore upon us, You cannot tent yourself: Begone, 'beseech you. Cor. I would they were barbarians, (as they are, Though in Rome litter'd,) not Romans, (as they are not, Though caly'd i' the porch o' the Capitol,)— Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two tribunes. Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetick; And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands Against a falling fabrick.-Will you hence, Before the tag42 return? whose rage doth rend Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear What they are us'd to bear. Men. I'll try Pray you, be gone: whether my old wit be in request With those that have but little; this must be patch'd With cloth of any colour. Com. Nay, come away. [Excunt Coriolanus, Cominius, and Others. 1 Pat. 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 his 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 Pat. [A noise within. I would they were a-bed! |