His popular shall, against a graver bench May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take 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 Bru. Why, shall the people give Cor. I'll give my reasons, More worthier than their voices. They know, the corn They ne'er did service for❜t: Being press'd to the war, The senate's courtesy ? Let deeds express Call our cares, fears: which will in time break ope To peck the eagles. Men. Come, enough. Bru. Enough, with over-measure. [9] The mischief and absurdity of what is called Imperium in imperio, is here finely expressed. WARB. [1] That is, pass them. We yet say, to thread an alley. JOHNS. [2] This multitudinous bosom; the bosom of that great monster, the peo pl:. MAL. Cor. No, take more : What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Of general ignorance,-it must omit Real necessities, and give way the while To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows, More than you doubt the change of't;3 that prefer To jump a body with a dangerous physic, 4 That's sure of death without it,-at once pluck out Bru. He has said enough. Sie. 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, Let what is meet, be said it must be meet,6 Bru. Manifest treason. Sic. This a consul? no. Bru. The Ædiles, ho!-Let him be apprehended. [3] To doubt is to fear. The meaning is, You whose zeal predominates over your terrors; you who do not so much fear the danger of violent measures, as wish the good to which they are necessary, the original constitution of our government. JOHNS. [4] To jump, anciently signified to jolt, to give a rude concussion to any thing. To jump a body may therefore mean to put it into violent agitation or commotion. STEEV. [5] Integrity is in this place soundness, uniformity, consistency. JOHNS. [6] Let it be said by you, that what is meet to be done, must be meet, i. e. shall be done, and put an end at once to tribunitian power, which was established, when irresistible violence, not a regard to propriety, directed the leg is lature. MALONE. 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, Cor. Hence, old goat! Sen. and 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 Ediles and a Rabble of Citizens. Men. On both sides more respect. Take from you all your power. Bru. Seize him, Ædiles. Cit. Down with him, down with him! 2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [Several speak. [They all bustle about CORIOLANUŠ. Tribunes, patricians, citizens !—what ho !— Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens ! Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace! Men. What is about to be?—I am out of breath; Confusion's near: I cannot speak :—You, tribunes To the people,-Coriolanus, patience : Speak, good Sicinius. 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. Fie, fie, fie! 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. True, 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 flat; To bring the roof to the foundation; And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges, Sic. This deserves death. Bru. Or let us stand to our authority, Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him ; Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence Bru. Ediles, seize him. Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield. Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. 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 hi m 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 yourscives 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! Cit. Down with him, down with him! [In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ediles, 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 gone. 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; 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,)— Men. Be gone; Put not your worthy rage into your tongue; One time will owe another. Cor. On fair ground, I could beat forty of them. Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two tribunes. Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic; And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands 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. [Exe. COR. COM. and others. 1 Pat. 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 his 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. I would they were a-bed! [A noise within. Men. I would they were in Tiber!-What, the ven geance, Could he not speak them fair? Re-enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS, with the Rabble. Sic. Where is this viper, That would depopulate the city, and Be every man himself? Men. You worthy tribunes, Sic. He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock With rigorous hands; he hath resisted law, And therefore law shall scorn him further trial [7] The lowest and most despicable of the populace are still denominated by those a little above them, Tag, rag, and bobtail. JOHNS. |