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And throw it against the wind.-To the market

place:

You have put me now to such a part, which never

I shall discharge to the life.

Com.

Come, come, we'll prompt you.

Vol. I pr'ythee now, sweet son; as thou hast said,
My praises made thee first a soldier, so,

To have my praise for this, perform a part
Thou hast not done before.

Cor.

Well, I must do't:

Away, my disposition, and possess me

Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my drum', into a pipe
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice

That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks'; and school-boys' tears take up
The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue
Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd knees,
Who bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms !-I will not do't:
Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth,
And, by my body's action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.

Vol.

At thy choice then:
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness'; for I mock at death

Which quired with my drum,] Which played in concert with my

drum.

2 Tent in my cheeks;] To tent, is to take up

3

let

Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear

residence.

Thy dangerous stoutness ;] This is obscure. Perhaps, she means:-Go, do thy worst; let me rather feel the utmost extremity that thy pride can bring upon us, than live thus in fear of thy dangerous obstinacy. JOHNSON.

With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list.

Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me:
But owe thy pride thyself.

Cor.

4

Pray, be content;

Mother, I am going to the market-place ;

Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves,
Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going:
I'll return consul;

Commend me to my wife.

Or never trust to what my tongue can do
I'the way of flattery further.

Vol.

Do your will.

[Exit.

Com. Away, the tribunes do attend you: arm yourself

To answer mildly; for they are prepar'd

With accusations, as I hear, more strong

Than are upon you yet.

Cor. The word is, mildly:-Pray you, let us go :

Let them accuse me by invention, I

Will answer in mine honour.

Men.

Ay, but mildly.

[Exeunt.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then; mildly.

SCENE III.

The same. The Forum.

Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.

Bru. In this point charge him home, that he affects

Tyrannical power: If he evade us there,

Enforce him with his envy to the people;

And that the spoil, got on the Antiates,
Was ne'er distributed.-

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Have you a catalogue

Ed. With old Menenius, and those senators That always favour'd him.

Sic.

Of all the voices that we have procur'd

Set down by the poll?

Ed.

I have; 'tis ready, here.
Sic. Have you collected them by tribes?
Ed.

I have.

Sic. Assemble presently the people hither:
And when they hear me say, It shall be so
I'the right and strength o'the commons, be it either
For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them,
If I say, fine, cry fine; if death, cry death;
Insisting on the old prerogative

And power i'the truth o'the cause.

Ed.

I shall inform them.

Bru. And when such time they have begun to cry,

Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd

Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentence.

Ed.

Very well.

Sic. Make them be strong, and ready for this hint, When we shall hap to giv't them.

Bru.

Go about it.

[Exit Edile.

Put him to choler straight: He hath been us'd
Ever to conquer, and to have his worth

Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot

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Of contradiction:] He has been used to have his worth, or (as we should now say) his pennyworth of contradiction; his full quota, or proportion.

Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks
What's in his heart: and that is there, which looks
With us to break his neck'.

Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, Senators, and Patricians.

Sic. Well, here he comes.

Men.

Calmly, I do beseech you.

Cor. Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece

Will bear the knave by the volume.-The honour'd

gods

Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice
Supplied with worthy men! plant love among us!
Throng our large temples with the shows of peace,
And not our streets with war!

1 Sen.

Men. A noble wish.

Amen, amen!

Re-enter Edile, with Citizens.

Sic. Draw near, ye people.

Ed. List to your tribunes; audience: Peace, I say. Cor. First, hear me speak.

Both Tri.

Well, say.-Peace, ho.

Cor. Shall I be charg'd no further than this present? Must all determine here?

I do demand,

Sic.
If you submit you to the people's voices,
Allow their officers, and are content

To suffer lawful censure for such faults
As shall be prov'd upon you?

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I am content.

-The

With us to break his neck.] The tribune seems to mean-' sentiments of Coriolanus's heart are our coadjutors, and look to have their share in promoting his destruction.

8 Will bear the knave by the volume.] i. e. would bear being called a knave as often as would fill out a volume.

Men. Lo, citizens, he says, he is content:
The warlike service he has done, consider;
Think on the wounds his body bears, which show
Like graves i'the holy churchyard.

Cor.

Scars to move laughter only.

Men.

Scratches with briars,

Consider further,

That when he speaks not like a citizen,
You find him like a soldier: Do not take
His rougher accents for malicious sounds,
But, as I say, such as become a soldier,
Rather than envy you".

Com.

Cor. What is the matter,

Well, well, no more.

That being pass'd for consul with full voice,

I am so dishonour'd, that the very hour

You take it off again?

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Cor. Stay then: 'tis true, I ought so.

Sic. We charge you, that you have contriv'd to take

From Rome all season'd office', and to wind

Yourself into a power tyrannical;

For which, you are a traitor to the people.
Cor. How! Traitor?

Men.

Nay; temperately: Your promise.

Cor. The fires i'the lowest hell fold in the people!
Call me their traitor!-Thou injurious tribune!
Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths,
In thy hands clutch'd' as many millions, in
Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say,
Thou liest, unto thee, with a voice as free
As I do pray the gods.

Sic.

Mark you this, people?

9 Rather than envy you.] Rather than import ill will to you. 1 season'd office,] All office established and settled by time,

and made familiar to the people by long use.

2 clutch'd - i. e. grasp'd.

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