Com. "Twas from the Cannon
Cor. Shall? O G.o.d! but most vnwise Patricians: why You graue, but wreaklesse Senators, haue you thus Giuen Hidra heere to choose an Officer, That with his peremptory Shall, being but The horne, and noise o"th" Monsters, wants not spirit To say, hee"l turne your Current in a ditch, And make your Channell his? If he haue power, Then vale your Ignorance: If none, awake Your dangerous Lenity: If you are Learn"d, Be not as common Fooles; if you are not, Let them haue Cushions by you. You are Plebeians, If they be Senators: and they are no lesse, When both your voices blended, the great"st taste Most pallates theirs. They choose their Magistrate, And such a one as he, who puts his Shall, His popular Shall, against a grauer Bench Then euer frown"d in Greece. By Ioue himselfe, It makes the Consuls base; and my Soule akes To know, when two Authorities are vp, Neither Supreame; How soone Confusion May enter "twixt the gap of Both, and take The one by th" other
Com. Well, on to"th" Market place
Corio. Who euer gaue that Counsell, to giue forth The Corne a"th" Store-house gratis, as "twas vs"d Sometime in Greece
Mene. Well, well, no more of that
Cor. Thogh there the people had more absolute powre I say they norisht disobedience: fed, the ruin of the State
Bru. Why shall the people giue One that speakes thus, their voyce?
Corio. Ile giue my Reasons, More worthier then their Voyces. They know the Corne Was not our recompence, resting well a.s.sur"d They ne"re did seruice for"t; being prest to"th" Warre, Euen when the Nauell of the State was touch"d, They would not thred the Gates: This kinde of Seruice Did not deserue Corne gratis. Being i"th" Warre, There Mutinies and Reuolts, wherein they shew"d Most Valour spoke not for them. Th" Accusation Which they haue often made against the Senate, All cause vnborne, could neuer be the Natiue Of our so franke Donation. Well, what then?
How shall this Bosome-multiplied, digest The Senates Courtesie? Let deeds expresse What"s like to be their words, We did request it, We are the greater pole, and in true feare They gaue vs our demands. Thus we debase The Nature of our Seats, and make the Rabble Call our Cares, Feares; which will in time Breake ope the Lockes a"th" Senate, and bring in The Crowes to pecke the Eagles
Mene. Come enough
Bru. Enough, with ouer measure
Corio. No, take more.
What may be sworne by, both Diuine and Humane, Seale what I end withall. This double worship, Whereon part do"s disdaine with cause, the other Insult without all reason: where Gentry, t.i.tle, wisedom Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no Of generall Ignorance, it must omit Reall Necessities, and giue way the while To vnstable Slightnesse. Purpose so barr"d, it followes, Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore beseech you, You that will be lesse fearefull, then discreet, That loue the Fundamentall part of State More then you doubt the change on"t: That preferre A n.o.ble life, before a Long, and Wish, To iumpe a Body with a dangerous Physicke, That"s sure of death without it: at once plucke out The Mult.i.tudinous Tongue, let them not licke The sweet which is their poyson. Your dishonor Mangles true iudgement, and bereaues the State Of that Integrity which should becom"t: Not hauing the power to do the good it would For th" ill which doth controul"t
Bru. Has said enough
Sicin. Ha"s spoken like a Traitor, and shall answer As Traitors do
Corio. Thou wretch, despight ore-whelme thee: What should the people do with these bald Tribunes?
On whom depending, their obedience failes 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 houre, Let what is meet, be saide it must be meet, And throw their power i"th" dust
Bru. Manifest Treason
Sicin. This a Consull? No.
Enter an aedile.
Bru. The Ediles hoe: Let him be apprehended: Sicin. Go call the people, in whose name my Selfe Attach thee as a Traitorous Innouator: A Foe to"th" publike Weale. Obey I charge thee, And follow to thine answer
Corio. Hence old Goat
All. Wee"l Surety him
Com. Ag"d sir, hands off
Corio. Hence rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy Garments
Sicin. Helpe ye Citizens.
Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Aediles.
Mene. On both sides more respect
Sicin. Heere"s hee, that would take from you all your power
Bru. Seize him Aediles
All. Downe with him, downe with him
2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons:
They all bustle about Coriola.n.u.s.
Tribunes, Patricians, Citizens: what ho: Sicinius, Brutus, Coriola.n.u.s, Citizens
All. Peace, peace, peace, stay, hold, peace
Mene. What is about to be? I am out of Breath, Confusions neere, I cannot speake. You, Tribunes To"th" people: Coriola.n.u.s, patience: Speak good Sicinius
Scici. Heare me, People peace
All. Let"s here our Tribune: peace, speake, speake, speake
Scici. You are at point to lose your Liberties: Martius would haue all from you; Martius, Whom late you haue nam"d for Consull
Mene. Fie, fie, fie, this is the way to kindle, not to quench
Sena. To vnbuild the Citie, and to lay all flat
Scici. What is the Citie, but the People?
All. True, the People are the Citie
Brut. By the consent of all, we were establish"d the Peoples Magistrates
All. You so remaine
Mene. And so are like to doe
Com. That is the way to lay the Citie flat, To bring the Roofe to the Foundation, And burie all, which yet distinctly raunges In heapes, and piles of Ruine
Scici. This deserues Death
Brut. Or let vs stand to our Authoritie, Or let vs lose it: we doe here p.r.o.nounce, Vpon the part o"th" People, in whose power We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy Of present Death
Scici. Therefore lay hold of him: Beare him toth" Rock Tarpeian, and from thence Into destruction cast him
Brut. aediles seize him
All Ple. Yeeld Martius, yeeld
Mene. Heare me one word, "beseech you Tribunes, heare me but a word
Aediles. Peace, peace