It makes the consuls base: and my soul aches 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. COMINIUS Well, on to the market-place. CORIOLANUS Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o' the storehouse gratis, as 'twas used Sometime in Greece,-- MENENIUS Well, well, no more of that. CORIOLANUS Though there the people had more absolute power, I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed The ruin of the state. BRUTUS Why, shall the people give One that speaks thus their voice? CORIOLANUS I'll give my reasons, More worthier than their voices. They know the corn Was not our recompense, resting well assured That ne'er did service for't: 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. Being i' the war Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd Most valour, spoke not for them: the accusation Which they have often made against the senate, All cause unborn, could never be the motive Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bisson multitude digest The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express What's like to be their words: 'we did request it;
We are the greater poll, 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. MENENIUS Come, enough. BRUTUS Enough, with over-measure. CORIOLANUS 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, 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't, Not having the power to do the good it would, For the in which doth control't. BRUTUS Has said enough. SICINIUS Has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer As traitors do. CORIOLANUS 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, 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. BRUTUS Manifest treason! SICINIUS This a consul? no. BRUTUS The aediles, ho!
Enter an AEdile Let him be apprehended. SICINIUS Go, call the people:
Exit AEdile 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. CORIOLANUS Hence, old goat!
Senators, & C We'll surety him. COMINIUS Aged sir, hands off. CORIOLANUS Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy garments. SICINIUS Help, ye citizens!
Enter a rabble of Citizens (Plebeians), with the AEdiles MENENIUS On both sides more respect. SICINIUS Here's he that would take from you all your power. BRUTUS Seize him, AEdiles! Citizens Down with him! down with him!
Senators, & C Weapons, weapons, weapons!
They all bustle about CORIOLANUS, crying 'Tribunes!' 'Patricians!' 'Citizens!' 'What, ho!'
'Sicinius!' 'Brutus!' 'Coriolanus!' 'Citizens!'
'Peace, peace, peace!' 'Stay, hold, peace!' MENENIUS 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. SICINIUS Hear me, people; peace! Citizens Let's hear our tribune: peace Speak, speak, speak. SICINIUS You are at point to lose your liberties:
Marcius would have all from you; Marcius, Whom late you have named for consul. MENENIUS Fie, fie, fie!
This is the way to kindle, not to quench. First Senator To unbuild the city and to lay all flat. SICINIUS What is the city but the people? Citizens True, The people are the city. BRUTUS By the consent of all, we were establish'd The people's magistrates. Citizens You so remain. MENENIUS And so are like to do. COMINIUS 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. SICINIUS This deserves death. BRUTUS 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. SICINIUS Therefore lay hold of him;
Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence Into destruction cast him. BRUTUS AEdiles, seize him! Citizens Yield, Marcius, yield! MENENIUS Hear me one word;
