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 magistrale;
And such a one as he, who puts his shall,
His popular shall, against a graver bench
Than ever frowu'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
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 fort: 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 : beiog 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,
All cause unborn, could never be the native
of our so frank donation. Well, what then ?
How shall this bosoni multiplied digest
The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express
What's like to be their words :-We did request it;
We are the greater pollt, 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.
Bru. Enough, with over-measure.
Cor.

No, take more: 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 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 ý 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 judgement, and bereaves the state Of that integrity which should become it;

• Motive, no doubt, was Shakspeare's word,
+ Number. † Fear. Risk.

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!

On whom depending, their obedience fails
To the greater bench : In a rebellion,

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.

Hence, old goat!
Sen.. Pat. We'll surety him.
Com.

Aged sir, hands off. Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy

bones Out of thy garments. Sic.

Help, ye citizens.

Re-enter Brutus, with the Ædiles, and a rabble of

Citizens.
Men. On both sides more respect.
Sic.

Here's he, that would
Take from you all your power.
Bru.

Seize bim, ædiles, Cit. Down with him, down with him!

(Several speak. 2 Sen.

Weapons, weapons, weapons! [They all bustle about Coriolanus.

Tribunes, patricians, citizens!-what, ho!
Sicipius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens!

Cit. Peace, pence, peace; stay, hold, peace!

Men. What is about to be ?-I am out of breath; Contusion's near: I cannot speak :-You, tribunes To the people, -- Coriolanus, patience : Speak, good Sicipius. 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.
Men.

fy, fy, fy! 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.

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 fat;
To bring the roof to the foundation;
And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges,
In heaps and piles of ruins.
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; Bear him to the rock Tarpeian*, and from thence Into destruction cast hini.

Bru.

True,

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

Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield.
Men.

Hear me one word. Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.

Ædi. Peace, peace.
Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's

friend,
And temperately proceed to what you would
Thus violently redress.
Bru,

Sir, those cold ways,
That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous
Where the disease is violent:Lay hands upon him,
And bear him to the rock.
Cor.

No; I'll die here.

(Drawing his sword. There's some among you have beheld me fighting; Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. Men. Down with that sword ;-Tribunes, with

draw a while. Bru. Lay hands upon him. Men.

Help, Marcius! help, You that be noble; help him, young, and old ! Cit. Down with him, down with him! [In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ædiles,

and the People, are all beat in. Men. Go, get you to your house ; be gone away, All will be naught else. 2 Sen.

Get you goue. Cor.

Stand fast; We have as many friends as enemies.

Men. Shall it be put to that? 1 Sen.

The gods forbid ! I pr'ythee, noble friend, home to thy house; Leave us to cure this cause. Men.

For 'tis a sore upon us, You cannot tent yourself: Begone, 'beseech you.

Com. Come, sir, along with us.

Cor. I would they were barbarians (as they are, Though in Rome litter'd), not Romans (as they are

not, Though calv'd i' the porch o’the Capitol),