Bru. SCENE changes to the FORUM. IN Enter Sicinius and Brutus. N this point charge him home, that he affects Inforce him with his envy to the people, And that the fpoil, got on the Antiates, Was ne'er diftributed. What, will he come ? Enter an Edile.. Ed. He's coming." Bru. How accompanied ? Ed. With old Menenius, and thofe Senators That always favour'd him. Sic. Have you a catalogue Of all the voices that we have procur'd, Ed. I have; 'tis ready, here. Sic. Have you collected them by Tribes ? Sic. Affemble prefently the people hither, I'th' right and ftrength o'th' commons; (be it either And power i'th' truth o'th' caufe. Ed. I will inform them. Bru. And when fuch time they have begun to cry, Let them not ceafe, but with a din confus'd Inforce the prefent execution Of what we chance to fentence. Ed. Very well. Sic. Make them be ftrong and ready for this hint, When we fhall hap to giv't them. Bru. Go about it, [Exit Edile. Ever Put him to choler ftreight; he hath been us'd VOL. VI. Ever to conquer, and to have his word Of contradiction. Being once chaf'd, he cannot What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks Enter Coriolanus, Menenius and Cominius with others. Sic. Well, here he comes. Men. Calmly, I do befeech you. Cor. Ay, as an hoftler, that for the poorest piece Supply with worthy men, (21) plant love amongst you. 1 Sen. Amen, amen! Enter the Edile with the Plebeians. Sic. Draw near, ye people. Ed. Lift to your Tribunes: audience; Peace, I fay. Cor. Firit, hear me fpeak. Both Tri. Well, fay: peace, ho. Cor. Shall I be charg'd no farther than this prefent? Muft all determine here ? Sic. I do demand, If you fubmit you to the People's voices, Allow their officers, and are content To fuffer lawful cenfure for fuch faults As fhall be prov'd upon you? (21) plant Love among you Through our large Temples with the Shews of Peace, And not our Streets with War.] Though this be the Reading of all the Copies, it is flat Nonfenfe. There is no Verb either expreft, or understood, that can govern the latter Part of the Sentence. I have no doubt of my Emendation restoring the Text rightly, becaufe Mr. Warburton ftarted the fame Conjecture, unknowing that I had meddled with the Paffage. Cor. Cor. I am content. Men. Lo, citizens, he fays he is content : Think on the wounds his body bears, which fhew Cor. Scratches with briars, fcars to move laughter only. Men. Confider further: That when he speaks not like a citizen, You find him like a foldier; (22) do not take Com. Well, well, no more. Cor. What is the matter, That being paft for Conful with full voice, Sic. Anfwer to us. Cor. Say then: 'tis true, I ought fo. Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take From Rome all feafon'd office, and to wind Yourfelf unto a power tyrannical; For which you are a traitor to the people. Men. Nay, temperately: your promife. Cor. The fires i'th' loweft hell fold in the people! Call me their traitor! thou injurious Tribune! Within thine eyes fate twenty thousand deaths, In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in Thy lying tongue both numbers; I would fay, Thou lieft, unto thee, with a voice as free, As I do pray the Gods. (22) do not take His rougher Actions for malicious founds :] I have no manner of Apprenention how a Man's Actions can be miftaken for Words. It would be very abfurd, as well as extraordinary, were I to do a faucy Thing in Company, for the Perfon offended to tell me, Sir, you give me very impudent Language. This would be, certainly, taking Actions for Sounds ----We may remember, a Roughness of Accent was one of Coriolanus's diftinguishing Characteristicks. Sic. Mark you this, people? All. To th' Rock with him. Sic. Peace: We need not lay new matter to his charge: Bru. But fince he hath Serv'd well for Rome Cor. What do you prate of service? Cor. You?—————— Men. Is this the promise that you made your Mother? Com. Know, I pray you—— Cor. I'll know no farther: Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death, Sic. For that he has (As much as in him lies) from time to time That do diftribute it; in the name o'th' people, From off the rock Tarpeian, never more To enter our Rome's Gates. I fay, it fhall be fo. I'th' People's name, All. It fhall be fo, it shall be fo; let him away: He's banish'd, and it shall be fo. Com. Hear me, my mafters, and my common friends Sic. He's fentenc'd: no more hearing. (23) I have been Conful, and can fhew for Rome I do love My country's good, with a refpect more tender, Sic. We know your drift. Speak what? Bru. There's no more to be faid, but he's banish'd As enemy to the people and his country. It fhall be fo. All. It fhall be fo, it fhall be fo. Cor. You common cry of curs, whofe breath I hate, That do corrupt my air: I banish you: (23) I have been Conful, and can fhew from Rome Her Enemies Marks upon me.] How, from Rome? Did he receive hoftile Marks from his own Country? No fuch thing. He received them in the fervice of Rome. So, twice in the Beginning of next Act, it is faid of Coriolanus ; -Had thou Foxfhip To banish him, that fruck more Blows for Rome, And again; Good Man: the Wounds that he does bear for Rome! |