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, wisdom, 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 on 't, that prefer
A noble life before a long, and wish

To jump a body with a dangerous physic
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 judgment, and bereaves the State
Of that integrity which should become it,
Not having the power to do the good it would,
For th' ill which doth control 't.

Bru.

Has said enough.

Sic. 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 th' 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' th' dust.

Bru. Manifest treason.

Sic.

This a consul? no.

Bru. The Ediles, ho!
Sic. Go, call the people;

name, myself

Let him be apprehended. [Exit BRUTUS.] in whose

Attach thee as a traitorous innovator,

A foe to th' public weal.
And follow to thine answer.

Cor.

Obey, I charge thee,

Hence, old goat!

Senators and We'll surety him.

Patricians.

Com.

}

Ag'd sir, hands off.

Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy

bones

Out of thy garments.

Sic.

Help, ye citizens.

Enter BRUTUS, the Ediles, and a rabble of Citizens.

Men. On both sides more respect.

Citizens. Down with him! down with him!

Weapons! weapons! weapons! [They all bustle about CORIOLAnus.

2 Sen.

Tribunes, patricians, citizens!

- what ho!.

Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens!

Citizens. Peace, peace, peace! stay, hold, peace!

Men. What is about to be?

To the people, Coriolanus, patience :-
Speak, good Sicinius.

Sic.

Citizens. 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.

Fie, fie, fie:

This is thy way to kindle, not to quench.
Sen.

To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat.
Sic. What is the city, but the people?

Citizens.

The people are the city.

True,

Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd

The people's magistrates.

Citizens.

You so remain.

Men. And so are like to do.

Com. That is the way to lay the city flat;

To bring the roof to the foundation,

And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges,

In heaps and piles of ruin.

Sic.
Bru.

This deserves death.

Or let us stand to our authority,

Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce,

Upon the part o' th' people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy
Of present death.

Sic.

Therefore, lay hold of him.

Bear him to th' rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction cast him.

Bru.

Ediles, seize him.

Hear me one word.

Citizens. Yield, Marcius, yield.

Men.

'Beseech you, Tribunes, hear me but a word.

Ediles. Peace, peace!

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

friends,

And temp'rately 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, withdraw a while.

Bru. Lay hands upon him.

Men. Help Marcius, help, You that be noble; help him, young, and old! Citizens. Down with him! down with him! [In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ediles, and the People, are beat in.

Men. Go, get you to your house: be gone, away! All will be naught else.

2 Sen.

Cor.

Get you gone.

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,
Though in Rome litter'd, not Romans,

not,

Though calv'd i' the porch o' th' Capitol !-
Men.

as they are,

as they are

-

Put not your worthy rage into your tongue:
One time will owe another.

Be gone;

Cor.

On fair ground,

I could myself

I could beat forty of them.

Men.

Take up a brace o' th' best of them; yea, the two Tribunes.

Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic; And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands Against a falling fabric.—Will you hence, Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear

What they are used to bear.

Men.

Pray you, be 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.
Com.

Nay, come away.

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS, COMINIUS, and Others. 1 Patrician. This man has marr'd his fortune. Men. 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.

Here's goodly work!

2 Pat.

[A noise within.

I would they were a-bed!

Men. I would they were in Tyber! - What, the

vengeance,

Could he not speak them fair?

Enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS, with the Rabble.
Sic.

Where is this viper,

That would depopulate the city, and

Be every man himself?