Bru. Did you perceive, He did solicit you in free contempt, When he did need your loves; and do you think, When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies Sic. Have you, Ere now, deny'd the asker? and, now again, 3 Cit. He's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet. 2 Cit. And will deny him: I'll have five hundred voices of that sound. 1 Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em. Bru. Get you hence instantly; and tell those friends, They have chose a consul, that will from them take Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking, Sic. Let them assemble; And, on a safer judgement, all revoke Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride, Which gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion Bru. Lay A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd, (No impediment between) but that you must Cast your election on him. Sic. Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided By your own true affections: and that, your minds Pre-occupy'd with what you rather must do Than what you should, made you against the grain To voice him consul: Lay the fault on us. Bru. Ay, spare us not. Say, we read lectures to you, How youngly he began to serve his country, How long continued: and what stock he springs of, Who, after great Hostilius, here was king: And nobly nam'd so, being censor twice, One thus descended, Sic. That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke Your sudden approbation. Bru. Say, you ne'er had done't, (Harp on that still,) but by our putting on: And presently, when you have drawn your number, Repair to the Capitol. Cit. We will so: almost all [several speak. Repent in their election. Bru. [Exeunt Citizens. Let them go on; This mutiny were better put in hazard, Than stay, past doubt, for greater: If, as his nature is, he fall in rage With their refusal, both observe and answer The vantage of his anger. Sic. To the Capitol: Come; we'll be there before the stream o' the people; And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, Which we have goaded onward. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. The Same. A Street. Corncts. Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Senators, and Patricians. Cor. Tullus Aufidius then had made new head? Lart. He had, my lord; and that it was, which caus'd Our swifter composition. Cor. So then the Volces stand but as at first; Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road Upon 's again. Com. They are worn, lord consul, so, That we shall hardly in our ages see Their banners wave again. . Cor. Saw you Aufidius? Lart. On safe-guard he came to me; and did curse Against the Volces, for they had so vilely Yielded the town: he is retir'd to Antium. Cor. Spoke he of me? Lart. Cor. He did, my lord. How? what? Lart. How often he had met you, sword to sword: That, of all things upon the earth, he hated Your person most: that he would pawn his fortunes To hopeless restitution, so he might Be call'd your vanquisher. Cor. At Antium lives he? Lart. At Antium. Cor. I wish I had a cause to seek him there, To oppose his hatred fully.-Welcome home. [To Lartius. Enter SICINIUS, and BRUTUS. Behold! these are the tribunes of the people, them; For they do prank them in authority 33, Sic. Cor. Ha! what is that? Bru. I do despise Pass no further. It will be dangerous to What makes this change? The matter? Go on: no further. Cor. Men. Com. Hath he not pass'd the nobles, and the com mons? Bru. Cominius, no. Cor. Have I had children's voices? 1 Sen. Tribunes, give way; he shall to the market Are these your herd? Must these have voices, that can yield them now, And straight disclaim their tongues?-What are your offices? |