With rigorous hands; he hath resisted law, And therefore law shall scorn him further trial Which he so sets at nought. Men. Do not cry, havock, where you should but As I do know the consul's worthiness, So can I name his faults:— Sic. Consul!-what consul? He a consul! Men. The consul Coriolanus. Cit. No, no, no, no, no. Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two; The which shall turn you to no further harm, Than so much loss of time. 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, Our certain death; therefore, it is decreed, He dies to-night. Men. Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away. Were to us all, that do't, and suffer it, A brand to the end o' the world. Sic. This is clean kam. Bru. Merely awry: When he did love his coun try,' It honour'd him. Men. The service of the foot Being once gangren'd, is not then respected For what before it was? Bru. We'll hear no more: Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence; Lest his infection, being of catching nature, Spread further. 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, Bru.. Sic. What do ye talk? If it were so,— Have we not had a taste of his obedience? Our ædiles smote? ourselves resisted?-Come:Men. Consider this;-He has been bred i' the Since he could draw a sword, and is ill school'd Noble tribunes, 1 Sen. Be Sic. Noble Menenius, you then as the people's officer:Masters, lay down your weapons. Bru. Go not home. Sic. Meet on the market-place:-We'll attend you there: Where, if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed Men. I'll bring him to you: 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. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A ROOM IN CORIOLANUS'S HOUSE. Enter Coriolanus, and Patricians. Cor. Let them pull all about mine ears; present me Death on the wheel, or at wild horses' heels; 1 Pat. Enter Volumnia. You do the nobler. Cor. I muse, my mother Does not approve me further, who was wont To speak of peace, or war. I talk of you; [To Volumnia. Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me False to my nature? Rather say, I play 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 You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd 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. There's no remedy; Pray, be counsel'd: I have a heart as little apt as yours, 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 physick For the whole state, I would put mine armour on, Which I can scarcely bear. Cor. What must I do? Men. Cor. Return to the tribunes. Well, What then? what then? Men. Repent what you have spoke. Cor. For them?—I cannot do it to the gods; Must I then do't to them? |