Shakespeare's First Folio Part 468

Brut. Meerely awry: When he did loue his Country, it honour'd him

Menen. The seruice of the foote Being once gangren'd, is not then respected For what before it was

Bru. Wee'l heare no more: Pursue him to his house, and plucke him thence, Least his infection being of catching nature, Spred further

Menen. One word more, one word: This Tiger-footed-rage, when it shall find The harme of vnskan'd swiftnesse, will (too late) Tye Leaden pounds too's heeles. Proceed by Processe, Least parties (as he is belou'd) breake out, And sacke great Rome with Romanes

Brut. If it were so?

Sicin. What do ye talke?

Haue we not had a taste of his Obedience?

Our Ediles smot: our selues resisted: come

Mene. Consider this: He ha's bin bred i'th' Warres Since a could draw a Sword, and is ill-school'd In boulted Language: Meale and Bran together He throwes without distinction. Giue me leaue, Ile go to him, and vndertake to bring him in peace, Where he shall answer by a lawfull Forme (In peace) to his vtmost perill

1.Sen. n.o.ble Tribunes, It is the humane way: the other course Will proue to b.l.o.o.d.y: and the end of it, Vnknowne to the Beginning

Sic. n.o.ble Menenius, be you then as the peoples officer: Masters, lay downe your Weapons

Bru. Go not home

Sic. Meet on the Market place: wee'l attend you there: Where if you bring not Martius, wee'l proceede In our first way

Menen. Ile bring him to you.

Let me desire your company: he must come, Or what is worst will follow

Sena. Pray you let's to him.

Exeunt. Omnes.

Enter Coriola.n.u.s with n.o.bles.

Corio. Let them pull all about mine eares, present me Death on the Wheele, or at wilde Horses heeles, Or pile ten hilles on the Tarpeian Rocke, That the precipitation might downe stretch Below the beame of sight; yet will I still Be thus to them.

Enter Volumnia.

n.o.ble. You do the n.o.bler

Corio. I muse my Mother Do's not approue me further, who was wont To call them Wollen Va.s.sailes, things created To buy and sell with Groats, to shew bare heads In Congregations, to yawne, be still, and wonder, When one but of my ordinance stood vp To speake of Peace, or Warre. I talke of you, Why did you wish me milder? Would you haue me False to my Nature? Rather say, I play The man I am

Volum. Oh sir, sir, sir, I would haue had you put your power well on Before you had worne it out

Corio. Let go

Vol. You might haue beene enough the man you are, With striuing lesse to be so: Lesser had bin The things of your dispositions, if You had not shew'd them how ye were dispos'd Ere they lack'd power to crosse you

Corio. Let them hang

Volum. I, and burne too.

Enter Menenius with the Senators.

Men. Come, come, you haue bin too rough, somthing too rough: you must returne, and mend it

Sen. There's no remedy, Vnlesse by not so doing, our good Citie Cleaue in the midd'st, and perish

Volum. Pray be counsail'd; I haue a heart as little apt as yours, But yet a braine, that leades my vse of Anger To better vantage

Mene. Well said, n.o.ble woman: Before he should thus stoope to'th' heart, but that The violent fit a'th' time craues it as Physicke For the whole State; I would put mine Armour on, Which I can sca.r.s.ely beare

Corio. What must I do?

Mene. Returne to th' Tribunes

Corio. Well, what then? what then?

Mene. Repent, what you haue spoke

Corio. For them, I cannot do it to the G.o.ds, Must I then doo't to them?

Volum. You are too absolute, Though therein you can neuer be too n.o.ble, But when extremities speake. I haue heard you say, Honor and Policy, like vnseuer'd Friends, I'th' Warre do grow together: Grant that, and tell me In Peace, what each of them by th' other loose, That they combine not there?

Corio. Tush, tush

Mene. A good demand

Volum. If it be Honor in your Warres, to seeme The same you are not, which for your best ends You adopt your policy: How is it lesse or worse That it shall hold Companions.h.i.+p in Peace With Honour, as in Warre; since that to both It stands in like request

Corio. Why force you this?

Volum. Because, that Now it lyes you on to speake to th' people: Not by your owne instruction, nor by'th' matter Which your heart prompts you, but with such words That are but roated in your Tongue; Though but b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, and Syllables Of no allowance, to your bosomes truth.

Now, this no more dishonors you at all, Then to take in a Towne 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 Honor. I am in this Your Wife, your Sonne: These Senators, the n.o.bles, And you, will rather shew our generall Lowts, How you can frowne, then spend a fawne vpon 'em, For the inheritance of their loues, and safegard Of what that want might ruine

Menen. n.o.ble Lady, Come goe with vs, speake faire: you may salue so, Not what is dangerous present, but the losse Of what is past

Volum. I prythee now, my Sonne, Goe to them, with this Bonnet in thy hand, And thus farre hauing stretcht it (here be with them) Thy Knee bussing the stones: for in such businesse Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th' ignorant More learned then the eares, wauing 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 Souldier, and being bred in broyles, Hast not the soft way, which thou do'st confesse Were fit for thee to vse, as they to clayme, In asking their good loues, but thou wilt frame Thy selfe (forsooth) hereafter theirs so farre, As thou hast power and person

Menen. This but done, Euen as she speakes, why their hearts were yours: For they haue Pardons, being ask'd, as free, As words to little purpose

Volum. Prythee now, Goe, and be rul'd: although I know thou hadst rather Follow thine Enemie in a fierie Gulfe, Then flatter him in a Bower.

Enter Cominius.

Here is Cominius

Com. I haue beene i'th' Market place: and Sir 'tis fit You make strong partie, or defend your selfe By calmenesse, or by absence: all's in anger

Menen. Onely faire speech

Com. I thinke 'twill serue, if he can thereto frame his spirit

Volum. He must, and will: Prythee now say you will, and goe about it

Corio. Must I goe shew them my vnbarb'd Sconce?

Must I with my base Tongue giue to my n.o.ble Heart A Lye, that it must beare well? I will doo't: Yet were there but this single Plot, to loose This Mould of Martius, they to dust should grinde it, And throw't against the Winde. Toth' Market place: You haue put me now to such a part, which neuer I shall discharge toth' Life