Enter MENENIUS, and Senators.

Men. Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough;

You must return, and mend it.

There's no remedy;

1 Sen. Unless, by not so doing, our good city Cleave in the midst, and perish.

Vol.

Pray be counsel'd:

I have a heart as little apt as yours,
But yet a brain, that leads my use of anger,

To better vantage.

Men.

Well said, noble woman: Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that The violent fit o'the time craves it as physick For the whole state, I would put mine armour on, Which I can scarcely bear.

Cor. What must I do?

Men.

Cor.

What then? what then?

Men.

Return to the tribunes.

Well,

Repent what you have spoke. Cor. For them?—I cannot do it to the gods; Must I then do't to them?

Vol.

You are too absolute;

Though therein you can never be too noble,

But when extremities speak. I have heard you say, Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends,

I' the war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me, In peace, what each of them by th' other lose, That they combine not there.

Cor.

'You are too absolute;

Tush, tush!

Though therein you can never be too noble,

But when extremities speak.] Except in cases of urgent neces sity, when your resolute and noble spirit, however commendable at other times, ought to yield to the occasion.

Men.

A good demand.

Vol. If it be honour, in your wars, to seem
The same you are not, (which, for your best ends,
You adopt your policy,) how is it less, or worse,
That it shall hold companionship in peace

With honour, as in war; since that to both
It stands in like request?

Cor.

Why force you this? Vol. Because that now it lies you on to speak To the people; not by your own instruction, Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you to, But with such words that are but roted in Your tongue, though but bastards, and syllables Of no allowance, to your bosom's truth.* Now, this no more dishonours you at all, Than to take in a town with gentle words, Which else would put you to your fortune, and The hazard of much blood.

5

I would dissemble with my nature, where

My fortunes, and my friends, at stake, requir'd,
I should do so in honour: I am in this,

Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;
And you will rather show our general lowts

How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon them,
For the inheritance of their loves, and safeguard
Of what that want' might ruin.

Men.
Come, go with us; speak fair:
Not what is dangerous present,

3 Why force you-] Why urge you.

bastards, and syllables

Noble lady!→ you may salve so, but the loss

Of no allowance, to your bosom's truth.] I read: "of no alliance;" therefore bastards. Yet allowance may well enough stand, as meaning legal right, established rank, or settled authority. JOHNSON.

5 Than to take in a town] To subdue or destroy. our general louts-] Our common clowns.

6

7

that want-] The want of their loves.

Of what is past.
Vol.
I pr'ythee now, my son,
Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand;

And thus far having stretch'd it, (here be with them,)*
Thy knee bussing the stones, (for in such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant
More learned than the ears,) waving thy head,
Which often, thus, correcting thy stout heart,
That humble, as the ripest mulberry,

Now will not hold the handling: Or, say to them,
Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils,
Hast not the soft way, which, thou dost confess,
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,

In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far

As thou hast power, and person.

Men.

This but done,

Even as she speaks, why, all their hearts were yours: For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free

As words to little purpose.

Vol.

Pr'ythee now,

Go, and be rul'd: although, I know, thou had'st

rather

Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf,

Than flatter him in a bower.

Here is Cominius.

Enter COMINIUS.

Com. I have been i' the market-place: and, sir,

'tis fit

You make strong party, or defend yourself
By calmness, or by absence; all's in anger.
Men. Only fair speech.

Com.

I think, 'twill serve, if he

He must, and will:

Can thereto frame his spirit.

Vol.

Pr'ythee, now, say, you will, and go about it.

Cor. Must I go show them my unbarb'd sconce ?
Must I

With my base tongue, give to my noble heart
A lie, that it must bear? Well, I will do't:
Yet were there but this single plot to lose,

This mould of Marcius, they to dust should grind it, And throw it against the wind.-To the marketplace:

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

up

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
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 stirrop, 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,

8

my

unbarb'd sconce?] Unbarbed sconce is untrimmed or

unshaven head.

single plot-] i. e. piece, portion; applied to a piece of earth, and here elegantly transferred to the body, carcase, 1 Which quired with my drum,] Which played in concert with drum.

my

Tent in my cheeks ;] To tent is to take up residence.

3

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
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.

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 Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul; 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.

3

Men.

Ay, but mildly.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then; mildly. [Exeunt.

let

Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear

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.

owe-] i. e. own.