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lose That they combine not there。 CORIOLANUS。 Tush； tush！
MENENIUS。 A good demand。 VOLUMNIA。 If it be honour in your wars
to seem The same you are not； which for your best ends You adopt your
policy； how is it less or worse That it shall hold companionship in peace
With honour as in war； since that to both It stands in like request？
CORIOLANUS。 Why force you this？ VOLUMNIA。 Because that now it
lies you on to speak To th' people； not by your own instruction； Nor by th'
matter which your heart prompts you； But with such words that are but
roted in Your tongue； though but bastards and syllables Of no allowance to
your bosom's truth。 Now； this no more dishonours you at all Than to take
in a town with gentle words； Which else would put you to your fortune
and The hazard of much blood。 I would dissemble with my nature where
My fortunes and my friends at stake requir'd I should do so in honour。 I
am in this Your wife； your son； these senators； the nobles； And you will
rather show our general louts How you can frown； than spend a fawn upon
'em For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard Of what that want
might ruin。 MENENIUS。 Noble lady！ Come； go with us； speak fair； you
may salve so； Not what is dangerous present； but the loss Of what is past。
VOLUMNIA。 I prithee now； my son； Go to them with this bonnet in thy
hand； And thus far having stretch'd it… here be with them… Thy knee
bussing the stones… for in such busines Action is eloquence； and the eyes
of th' ignorant More learned than the ears… waving thy head； Which often
thus correcting thy stout heart； Now humble as the ripest mulberry That
will not hold the handling。 Or say to them Thou art their soldier and； being
bred in broils； Hast not the soft way which； thou dost confess； Were fit for
thee to use； as they to claim； In asking their good loves； but thou wilt
frame Thyself； forsooth； hereafter theirs； so far As thou hast power and
person。 MENENIUS。 This but done Even as she speaks； why； their hearts
were yours； For they have pardons； being ask'd； as free As words to little
purpose。 VOLUMNIA。 Prithee now； Go； and be rul'd； although I know
thou hadst rather Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf Than flatter him in a
bower。 Enter COMINIUS
Here is Cominius。 COMINIUS。 I have been i' th' market…place； and；
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sir； 'tis fit You make strong party； or defend yourself By calmness or by
absence； all's in anger。 MENENIUS。 Only fair speech。 COMINIUS。 I
think 'twill serve； if he Can thereto frame his spirit。 VOLUMNIA。 He must
and will。 Prithee now； say you will； and go about it。 CORIOLANUS。 Must
I go show them my unbarb'd sconce？ Must I With my base tongue give to
my noble heart A lie that it must bear？ Well； I will do't； Yet； were there but
this single plot to lose； This mould of Marcius； they to dust should grind it；
And throw't against the wind。 To th' market…place！ You have put me now
to such a part which never I shall discharge to th' life。 COMINIUS。 Come；
come； we'll prompt you。 VOLUMNIA。 I prithee now； sweet son； as thou
hast said My praises made thee first a soldier； so； To have my praise for
this； perform a part Thou hast not done before。 CORIOLANUS。 Well； I
must do't。 Away； my disposition； and possess me Some harlot's spirit！ My
throat of war be turn'd； Which quier'd with my drum； into a pipe Small as
an eunuch or the virgin voice That babies lulls asleep！ The smiles of
knaves Tent in my cheeks； and schoolboys' tears take up The glasses of my
sight！ A beggar's tongue Make motion through my lips； and my arm'd
knees； Who bow'd but in my stirrup； bend like his That hath receiv'd an
alms！ I will not do't； Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth； And by my
body's action teach my mind A most inherent baseness。 VOLUMNIA。 At
thy choice； then。 To beg of thee； it is my more dishonour Than thou of
them。 Come all to ruin。 Let Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear Thy
dangerous stoutness； for I mock at death With as big heart as thou。 Do as
thou list。 Thy valiantness was mine； thou suck'dst it from me； But owe thy
pride thyself。 CORIOLANUS。 Pray be content。 Mother； I am going to the
market…place； Chide me no more。 I'll mountebank their loves； Cog their
hearts from them； and come home belov'd Of all the trades in Rome。 Look；
I am going。 Commend me to my wife。 I'll return consul； Or never trust to
what my tongue can do I' th' way of flattery further。 VOLUMNIA。 Do
your will。 Exit COMINIUS。 Away！ The tribunes do attend you。 Arm
yourself To answer mildly； for they are prepar'd With accusations； as I
hear； more strong Than are upon you yet。 CORIOLANUS。 The word is
'mildly。' Pray you let us go。 Let them accuse me by invention； I Will
answer in mine honour。 MENENIUS。 Ay； but mildly。 CORIOLANUS。
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CORIOLANUS
Well； mildly be it then… mildly。 Exeunt
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CORIOLANUS
SCENE III。 Rome。 The Forum
Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS
BRUTUS。 In this point charge him home； that he affects Tyrannical
power。 If he evade us there； Enforce him with his envy to the people； And
that the spoil got on the Antiates Was ne'er distributed。
Enter an AEDILE
What； will he come？ AEDILE。 He's coming。 BRUTUS。 How
accompanied？ AEDILE。 With old Menenius； and those senators That
always favour'd him。 SICINIUS。 Have you a catalogue Of all the voices
that we have procur'd； Set down by th' poll？ AEDILE。 I have； 'tis ready。
SICINIUS。 Have you collected them by tribes？ AEDILE。 I have。
SICINIUS。 Assemble presently the people hither； And when they hear me
say 'It shall be so I' th' right and strength o' th' commons' be it either For
death； for fine； or banishment； then let them； If I say fine； cry 'Fine！'… if
death； cry 'Death！' Insisting on the old prerogative And power i' th' truth o'
th' cause。 AEDILE。 I shall inform them。 BRUTUS。 And when such time
they have begun to cry； Let them not cease； but with a din confus'd
Enforce the present execution Of what we chance to sentence。 AEDILE。
Very well。 SICINIUS。 Make them be strong； and ready for this hint； When
we shall hap to give't them。 BRUTUS。 Go about it。 Exit AEDILE Put him
to choler straight。 He hath been us'd Ever to conquer； and to have his
worth Of contradiction； being once chaf'd； he cannot Be rein'd again to
temperance； then he speaks What's in his heart； and that is there which
looks With us to break his neck。
Enter CORIOLANUS； MENENIUS and COMINIUS； with others
SICINIUS。 Well； here he comes。 MENENIUS。 Calmly； I do beseech
you。 CORIOLANUS。 Ay； as an ostler； that for th' poorest piece Will bear
the knave by th' volume。 Th' honour'd gods Keep Rome in safety； and the
chairs of justice Supplied with worthy men！ plant love among's！ Throng
our large temples with the shows of peace； And not our streets with war！
FIRST SENATOR。 Amen； amen！ MENENIUS。 A noble wish。
Re…enter the AEDILE；with the plebeians SICINIUS。 Draw