Revoke your ignorant election : Enforce his pride, and his old hate to you : With what contempt he wore the humble weed, But that you must caft your election on him. Sic. Say, you chofe him more after our commandment, Than guided by your own affections, And that your minds, pre-occupied with what fhould do, Bru. Ay, fpare us not: fay, we read lectures to you, How youngly he began to ferve his country, How long continued, and what ftock he fprings of, Sic. One thus defcended, That had befide well in his perfon wrought, Plutarch in his account of the Martian family enumerates the feveral great men who had fprung from it, in which lift ftand Pub lius Martius and Quintus Martius and Cenforinus; who, though they lived before Plutarch, came after Coriolanus. Shakespear therefore by copying Plutarch too clofely and hastily hath fallen into this inad vertence of making a cotemporary with Coriolanus mention the men who lived long after him. That That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke Bru. Say, you ne'er had done't, (Harp on that ftill) but by our putting on ; And prefently, when you have drawn your number, All. We will; almost all Repent in their election. Bru. Let 'em go on : This mutiny were better put in hazard, Than ftay paft doubt for greater: If, as his nature is, he fall in rage [Exeunt Citizens. With their refufal, both obferve and answer The vantage of his anger. Sic. Come; to th' Capitol. We will be there before the ftream o' th' people : And this shall feem, as partly 'tis, their own, Which we have goaded onward. ACT III. SCENE [Exeunt. I. Rome. Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius, Titus Lartius, and other Senators. Cor. T Ullus Aufidius then had made new head? Lar. He had, my Lord, and that it was which Our fwifter compofition. Cor. So then the Volfcians ftand but as at first, Ready when time fhall prompt them, to make inroad Upon's again. Com. They're worn, Lord Conful, fo, That we shall hardly in our ages fee Their banners wave again. Cor. Saw you Aufidius? [caus'd Lar. On fafe-guard he came to me, and did curfe Against the Volfcians, for they had fo vilely Yielded the town; he is retir'd to Antium. Cor. Spoke he of me? Lar. He did, my Lord. Cor. How! what? Lar. How often he had met you fword to fword: That of all things upon the earth he hated Your Your perfon moft: that he would pawn his fortunes Be call'd your vanquisher. Cor. At Antium lives he? Lar. At Antium. Cor. I wish I had a cause to seek him there, Behold, these are the Tribunes of the people, Com. Hath he not pafs'd the Nobles and the Commons ? Bru. Cominius, no. Cor. Have I had childrens voices? Sen. Tribunes, give way; he fhall to th'market-place. Bru. The people are incens'd against him. Sic. Stop, Or all will fall in broil. Cor. Are thefe your herd? Muft thefe have voices, that can yield them now, And ftraight difclaim their tongues? what are your offices? You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth? Have you not fet them on ? Men. Be calm, be calm. Cor. It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot, To curb the will of the Nobility: Suffer't, and live with fuch as cannot rule, Bru. Call't not a plot ; The people cry you mock'd them; and of late, Cor. Cor. Why, this was known before. Bru. Not to them all. Cor. Have you inform'd them fince ? Cor. Yes, you are like enough to do fuch bufinefs. Sic. You fhew too much of that, For which the people ftir; if you will pafs Nor yoke with him for Tribune. Men. Let's be calm. Com. The people are abus'd, fet on; this paltring Deferv'd this fo difhonour'd rub, laid falfly Cor. Tell me of corn! This was my speech, and I will speak't again Men, Not now, not now. Sen. Not in this heat, Sir, now. Cor. Now as I live, I will " As for my nobler friends, I crave their pardons: In foothing them, we nourish 'gainst our Senate Which we our felves have plow'd for, fow'd and scatter'd, By mingling them, with us, the honour'd number; Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that Which we have given to beggars. Men. Well, no more Sen. No more words, we beseech you Cor. How! no more! As for my country I have shed my blood, Not Not fearing outward force; fo fhall my lungs Bru. You fpeak o' th' people, Sir, as if you were A God to punish, not as being a man Of their infirmity. Sic. "Twere well we let The people know't. Men. What, what! his choler? Were I as patient as the midnight fleep, Sic. It is a mind That fhall remain a poison were it is, Cor. Shall remain ? Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you Com. 'Twas from the canon, Cor. Shall? O good but moft unwife Patricians, why, You grave but reckless Senators, have you thus That with his peremptory fhall, being but То |