The people cry, you mock'd them; and, of late, When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd; Scandal'd the suppliants for the people; call'd them Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. Cor. Why, this was known before. Not unlike, Cor. You are like to do such business. Bru. Each way to better yours. Cor. Why then should I be consul? By yon clouds, Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me To where you are bound, you must inquire your way, Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit; Or never be so noble as a consul, Nor yoke with him for tribune. Men. Let's be calm. Com. The people are abus'd:-Set on. This pal t'ring* Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely + I' the plain way of his merit. Cor. Tell me of corn! This was my speech, and I will speak't again ; Men. Not now, not now. 1 Sen. Not in this heat, sir, now. Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My nobler friends, I crave their pardons : For the mutable, rank-scented many‡, let them Therein behold themselves: I say again, In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate • * Shuffling. + Treacherously. + Populace. Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd and scatter'd, By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that Which they have given o beggars. Men. Well, no more. 1 Sen. No more words, we beseech you. Cor. How! no more? As for my country I have shed my blood, Bru. As if you were a god to punish, not Sic. We let the people know't. Men. Cor. Choler! You speak o'the people, 'Twere well, What, what? bis choler? Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, By Jove, 'twould be my mind. Sic. It is a mind, That shall remain a poison where it is, Not poison any further. Cor. Shall remain ! Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you His absolute shall? Com, Cor. 'Twas from the canons. O good, but most unwise patricians, why, Shall! You grave, but reckless 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, ↑ Scab. • Lepers. Small fish. Careless. Then vail your ignorance: if none, awake Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians, When both your voices blended, the greatest taste 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 The ruin of the state. Bru. Why, shall the people give I'll give my reasons, One, that speaks thus, their voice? Cor. 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 • Pass through. Which they have often made against the senate, To peck the eagles. Men. No, take more: Come, enough. Bru. Enough, with over-measure. Cor. 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, wis dom, Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no 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; More than you doubt the change of't; that prefer To jump a body with a dangerous physick Motive, no doubt, was Shakspeare's word. + Number. Fear. § Risk. Not having the power to do the good it would, 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 public weal: Obey, I charge thee, And follow to thine answer. Cor. Sen. & Pat. We'll surety him. Com. Hence, old goat! Aged sir, hands off. Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy Re-enter Brutus, with the Ediles, and a rabble of Cit. Down with him, down with him! 2 Sen. [Several speak. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [They all bustle about Coriolanus. |