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gone。 I'll try whether my old wit be in request With those that have but
little； this must be patch'd With cloth of any colour。 COMINIUS。 Nay；
come away。 Exeunt CORIOLANUS and COMINIUS； with others
PATRICIANS。 This man has marr'd his fortune。 MENENIUS。 His nature
is too noble for the world： He would not flatter Neptune for his trident； Or
Jove for's 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。 ＇A noise within＇ Here's goodly work！ PATRICIANS。 I
would they were a…bed。 MENENIUS。 I would they were in Tiber。 What
the vengeance； could he not speak 'em fair？
Re…enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS； the rabble again
SICINIUS。 Where is this viper That would depopulate the city and
Be every man himself？ MENENIUS。 You worthy Tribunes… SICINIUS。
He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock With rigorous hands； he hath
resisted law； And therefore law shall scorn him further trial Than the
severity of the public power； Which he so sets at nought。 FIRST CITIZEN。
He shall well know The noble tribunes are the people's mouths； And we
their hands。 PLEBEIANS。 He shall； sure on't。 MENENIUS。 Sir； sir…
SICINIUS。 Peace！ MENENIUS。 Do not cry havoc； where you should but
hunt With modest warrant。 SICINIUS。 Sir； how comes't that you Have
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holp to make this rescue？ MENENIUS。 Hear me speak。 As I do know the
consul's worthiness； So can I name his faults。 SICINIUS。 Consul！ What
consul？ MENENIUS。 The consul Coriolanus。 BRUTUS。 He consul！
PLEBEIANS。 No； no； no； no； no。 MENENIUS。 If； by the tribunes' leave；
and yours； good people； I may be heard； I would crave a word or two； The
which shall turn you to no further harm Than so much loss of time。
SICINIUS。 Speak briefly； then； For we are peremptory to dispatch 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。
MENENIUS。 Now the good gods forbid That our renowned Rome； whose
gratitude Towards her deserved children is enroll'd In Jove's own book；
like an unnatural dam Should now eat up her own！ SICINIUS。 He's a
disease that must be cut away。 MENENIUS。 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 dropt it for his
country； And what is left； to lose it by his country Were to us all that do't
and suffer it A brand to th' end o' th' world。 SICINIUS。 This is clean kam。
BRUTUS。 Merely awry。 When he did love his country； It honour'd him。
SICINIUS。 The service of the foot； Being once gangren'd； is not then
respected For what before it was。 BRUTUS。 We'll hear no more。 Pursue
him to his house and pluck him thence； Lest his infection； being of
catching nature； Spread further。 MENENIUS。 One word more； one word
This tiger…footed rage； when it shall find The harm of unscann'd swiftness；
will； too late； Tie leaden pounds to's heels。 Proceed by process； Lest
parties… as he is belov'd… break out； And sack great Rome with Romans。
BRUTUS。 If it were so… SICINIUS。 What do ye talk？ Have we not had a
taste of his obedience… Our aediles smote； ourselves resisted？ Come！
MENENIUS。 Consider this： he has been bred i' th' wars Since 'a could
draw a sword； and is ill school'd In bolted 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。 FIRST SENATOR。 Noble Tribunes； It is the humane
way； the other course Will prove too bloody； and the end of it Unknown to
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the beginning。 SICINIUS。 Noble Menenius； Be you then as the people's
officer。 Masters； lay down your weapons。 BRUTUS。 Go not home。
SICINIUS。 Meet on the market…place。 We'll attend you there； Where； if
you bring not Marcius； we'll proceed In our first way。 MENENIUS。 I'll
bring him to you。 ＇To the SENATORS＇ Let me desire your company； he
must come； Or what is worst will follow。 FIRST SENATOR。 Pray you let's
to him。 Exeunt
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CORIOLANUS
SCENE II。 Rome。 The house of CORIOLANUS
Enter CORIOLANUS with NOBLES
CORIOLANUS。 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。 FIRST PATRICIAN。 You do the nobler。
CORIOLANUS。 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。
Enter VOLUMNIA I talk of you： Why did you wish me milder？
Would you have me False to my nature？ Rather say I play The man I am。
VOLUMNIA。 O； sir； sir； sir； I would have had you put your power well on
Before you had worn it out。 CORIOLANUS。 Let go。 VOLUMNIA。 You
might have been enough the man you are With striving less to be so； lesser
had been The thwartings of your dispositions； if You had not show'd them
how ye were dispos'd； Ere they lack'd power to cross you。 CORIOLANUS。
Let them hang。 VOLUMNIA。 Ay； and burn too。
Enter MENENIUS with the SENATORS
MENENIUS。 Come； come； you have been too rough； something too
rough； You must return and mend it。 FIRST SENATOR。 There's no
remedy； Unless； by not so doing； our good city Cleave in the midst and
perish。 VOLUMNIA。 Pray be counsell'd； I have a heart as little apt as
yours； But yet a brain that leads my use of anger To better vantage。
MENENIUS。 Well said； noble woman！ Before he should thus stoop to th'
herd； but that The violent fit o' th' time craves it as physic For the whole
state； I would put mine armour on； Which I can scarcely bear。
CORIOLANUS。 What must I do？ MENENIUS。 Return to th' tribunes。
CORIOLANUS。 Well； what then； what then？ MENENIUS。 Repent what
you have spoke。 CORIOLANUS。 For them！ I cannot do it to the gods；
Must I then do't to them？ VOLUMNIA。 You are too absolute； Though
therein you can never be too noble But when extremities speak。 I have
heard you say Honour and policy； like unsever'd friends； I' th' war do grow
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together； grant that； and tell me In peace what each of them by th' other
lose That they combine not there。 CORIOLANUS。 Tush； tush！
MENENIUS。 A good demand。 VOLUMNIA。 If it be