Than the severity of the public power, 1 Cit. He shall well know, The noble tribunes are the people's mouths, Cit. He shall, sure on't. Men. Sir, Sic. Peace. [Several speak together. Men. Do not cry, havoc, where you should but hunt With modest warrant. Sic. Sir, how comes it, that you Have holp to make this rescue ? As I do know the consul's worthiness, So can I name his faults: Sic. Consul !-what consul? Cit. No, no, no, no, no. Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people, I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two; The which shall turn you to no further harm, Sic. Speak briefly then : For we are peremptory, to despatch This viperous traitor: to eject him hence, Men. Now the good gods forbid, That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away. What has he done to Rome, that's worthy death? [8] To cry havock was, I believe, originally a sporting phrase, from hafoc, which in Saxon signifies a hawk. It was afterwards used in war, and is expressly forbid in Ordinances des Battailles, the second article of which seems to have been fatal to Bardoiph. It was death even to touch the pix of little price. TYRWHITT. And, what is left, to lose it by his country, Sic. This is clean kam. 8 Bru. Merely awry: When he did love his country, It honour'd him. Men. The service of the foot Being once gangreen'd, is not then respected Bru. We'll hear no more: Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence; Men. One word more, one word. This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unscann'd swiftness, will, too late, And sack great Rome with Romans. Bru. If 'twere so, Sic. What do ye talk? Have we not had a taste of his obedience? Our Ediles smote? ourselves resisted ?-Come :- 1 Sen. Noble tribunes, It is the humane way: the other course Sic. Noble Menenius, Be you then as the people's officer : Sic. Meet on the market-place :-we'll attend you there : Where, if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed In our first way. Men. I'll bring him to you : [8] i. e. Awry. So Cotgrave interprets, Tout va a contrepoil, All goes clean kam. Hence a cambrel for a crooked stick or the bend in a horse's hinder leg. WARB.The Welch word for crooked is kam. STEEV. Let me desire your company. [To the Senators.] He must come, Or what is worst will follow. 1 Sen. Pray, let's to him. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Room in CORIOLANUS's house. Enter CORIOLANUS, and Patricians. Cor. Let them pull all about mine ears; present me Death on the wheel, or at wild horses' heels; Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock, That the precipitation might down stretch Enter VOLUMNIA. 1 Pat. You do the nobler. Does not approve me further, who was wont The man I am. Vol. O, sir, sir, sir, I would have had you put your power well on, Before you had worn it out. Cor. Let go. Vol. You might have been enough the man you are, With striving less to be so: Lesser had been The thwartings of your dispositions, if You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd Ere they lack'd power to cross you. Cor. Let them hang. Vol. Ay, and burn too. Enter MENENIUS and Senators. Men. Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough; You must return, and mend it. 1 Sen. There's no remedy; Unless, by not so doing, our good city [9] That is, I wonder, I am at a loss. [1] My rank. JOHNS. Cleave in the midst, and perish. Vol. Pray be counsell'd: I have a heart as little apt as your's, But yet a brain, that leads my use of anger, Men. Well said, noble woman : Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that Cor. What must I do? Men. Return to the tribunes. Cor. Well, what then? what then? Men. Repent what you have spoke. Cor. For them ?—I cannot do it to the gods : Must I then do't to them? Vol. You are too absolute; Though therein you can never be too noble, But when extremities speak.2 I have heard you say, I'the war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me, Cor. Tush, tush! Men. A good demand. Vol. If it be honour, in your wars, to seem With honour, as in war; since that to both Cor. Why force you this ?3 Vol. Because, that now it lies you on to speak To the people; not by your own instruction, Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you to; But with such words that are but roted in Your tongue, though but bastards, and syllables Of no allowance, to your bosom's truth. Now, this no more dishonours you at all, Than to take in a town with gentle words, Which else would put you to your fortune, and [2] Except in cases of urgent necessity, when your resolute and noble spirit, however commendable at other times, ought to yield to the occa sion. MAL. [3] Why urge you? JOHNS. I would dissemble with my nature, where Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles ; How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon them, Men. Noble lady ! Come, go with us; speak fair: you may salve so, Vol. I pr'ythee now, my son, Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand; And thus far having stretch'd it, (here be with them,) As thou hast power, and person. Men. This but done, Even as she speaks, why, all their hearts were your's: For they have pardons, being ask’d, as free As words to little purpose. Vol. Pr'ythee now, Go, and be rul’d: although, I know, thou hadst rather Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf, Than flatter him in a bower. Here is Cominius. Enter COMINIUS. Com. I have been i'the market-place : and, sir, 'tis fit You make strong party, or defend yourself By calmness, or by absence; all's in anger. Men. Only fair speech. Com. I think, 'twill serve, if he Can thereto frame his spirit. [4] I think the meaning is, I am in their condition, I am at stake, to. gether with your wife, your son.' [5] Our common clowns. JOHNS. [6] The want of their loves. [7] Not seems to signify not only. JOHNS. [8] This fruit, when thoroughly ripe, drops from the tree. STEEV. |