style="font-size:15px;"> 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 ill 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!—Let him be apprehended.
SICINIUS.
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,
And follow to thine answer.
CORIOLANUS.
Hence, old goat!
SENATORS and PATRICIANS.
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!
[Re-enter Brutus, with the AEDILES and a rabble of Citizens.]
MENENIUS.
On both sides more respect.
SICINIUS.
Here’s he that would take from you all your power.
BRUTUS.
Seize him, aediles.
PLEBEIANS.
Down with him! down with him!
SECOND SENATOR.
Weapons, weapons, weapons!
[They all bustle about CORIOLANUS.]
Tribunes! patricians! citizens!—What, ho!—
Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, Citizens!
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 nam’d 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.
