Men. Do not cry, havock †, where you should but

Hear me speak :—

Consul?-what consul?

He a consul?

As I do know the consul's worthiness,
So can I name his faults :-

I

Sic.

Men. The consul Coriolanus.
Bru.

Cit. No, no, no, no, no.

Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good

people,

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.
Now the good gods forbid,
That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deserved t children is enroll'd
In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam
Should now eat up her own!

Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away.
Men. O, he's a limb, that has but a disease;
Mortal, to cut it off; to cure it, easy.

What has he done to Rome, that's worthy death?
Killing our enemies? The blood he hath lost,
(Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath,
By many an ounce,) he dropp'd it for his country;

* Be sure on't.

VOL. VIII.

+ The signal for slaughter.

Deserving.

And, what is left, to lose it by his country,
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

country,

It honour'd him.

Men.

The service of the foot,

Being once gangren'd, is it 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 1, will, too late, Tie leaden pounds to his heels. Proceed by process ; Lest parties (as he is belov'd) break out,

And sack great Rome with Romans.

Bru.

Sic. What do ye talk?

If it were so,—

Have we not had a taste of his obedience?

Our Ediles smote? ourselves resisted?-Come :Men. Consider this ;-He has been bred i'the

wars

Since he could draw a sword, and is ill school'd
In boulted § language; meal and bran together
He throws without distinction. Give me leave,
I'll go to him, and undertake to bring him
Where he shall answer, by a lawful form,
(In peace) to his utmost peril..

1 Sen.
Noble tribunes,
It is the humane way: the other course
Will prove too bloody; and the end of it
Unknown to the beginning.

Sic.

Noble Menenius,

Be you then as the people's officer:

* Quite awry.

+ Absolutely.

§ Finely sifted.

Inconsiderate haste.

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 In our first way.

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 ;
Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock,
That the precipitation might down stretch
Below the beam of sight, yet will I still
Be thus to them.

1 Pat.

Enter Volumnia.

You do the nobler.

Cor. I muse * , my mother

Does not approve me further, who was wont
To call them woollen vassals, things created
To buy and sell with groats; to show bare heads
In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder,
When one but of my ordinance + stood up
To speak of peace, or war.
I talk of you;

[To Volumnia.

Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me

* Wonder.

+ Rank.