Cor.

Shall!

O good, but most unwise patricians, why,
You grave, but reckless1 senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choose an officer,

That with his peremptory shall, being but

The horn and noise o'the monsters, wants not spirit
To
say, he'll turn your current in a ditch,

And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then vail your ignorance: if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,
If they be senators: and they are no less,
When both your voices blended, the greatest taste
Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate;
And such a one as he, who puts his shall,
His popular shall, against a graver bench

Than ever frown'd in Greece! By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base: and my soul akes,
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supreme, how soon confusion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take
The one by the other.

Com.

Well-on to the market-place. Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o'the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd Sometime in Greece,

Men.

Well, well, no more of that,

Cor. (Though there the people had more absolute

power,)

I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed

• Careless.

The ruin of the state.

Bru.

Why, shall the people give

One, that speaks thus, their voice?

Cor.

I'll give my reasons, More worthier than their voices. They know, the

corn

Was not our recompence; resting well assur'd

They ne'er did service for't: Being press'd to the war,
Even when the navel of the state was touch'd,
They would not thread the gates: this kind of
service

Did not deserve corn gratis: being i' the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd
Most valour, spoke not for them: The accusation
Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the native?
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiplied digest

The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express
What's like to be their words :-We did request it ;
We are the greater poll,4 and in true fear
They gave us our demands:Thus we debase

The nature of our seats, and make the rabble
Call our cares, fears: which will in time break ope
The locks o'the senate, and bring in the crows

To peck the eagles.

Men.

Come, enough.

No, take more :

Bru. Enough, with over-measure.

Cor.

2 Pass through. 3 Motive, no doubt was Shakspeare's word.

4 Number.

What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Seal what I end withal!-This double worship,Where one part does disdain with cause, the other Insult without all reason; where gentry, title, wisdom Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no

Of general ignorance,-it must omit

Real necessities, and give way the while

To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows, Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseech you,

You that will be less fearful than discreet;
That love the fundamental part of state,

More than you doubt the change of't; that prefer
A noble life before a long, and wish

To jump a body with a dangerous physick
That's sure of death without it,—at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue, let them not lick
The sweet which is their poison: your dishonour
Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the state
Of that integrity which should become it;
Not having the power to do the good it would,
For the ill which doth control it.

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, Then were they chosen; in a better hour,

Let what is meet, be said it must be meet,
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. & Pat. We'll surety him.

Com.

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.

Fye, fye, fye!

Men.
This is the way to kindle, not to quench.
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,

In heaps and piles of ruin.

Sic.

;

This deserves death.

Bru. Or let us stand to our authority,
Or let us lose it :-We do here pronounce,
Upon the part o'the people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy
Of present death.

Sic.

Therefore, lay hold of him;

7

Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence

7 From whence criminals were thrown, and dashed to pieces.