Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand;

And thus far having stretch'd it, (here be with them,)
Thy knee buffing the ftones, (for in fuch business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant
More learned than the ears,) waving thy head,
Which often, thus, correcting thy ftout heart,
Now humble, as the ripeft mulberry,

That will not hold the handling: Or, fay to them,
Thou art their foldier, and being bred in broils,
Haft not the foft way, which, thou doft confess,
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,

In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forfooth, hereafter theirs, so far
As thou haft power, and perfon.

MEN. This but done,

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

As words to little purpose.

VOL. Pry'thee now,

Go, and be rul'd: although, I know, thou had'ft 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, fir, 'tis fit

You make strong party, or defend yourself

By calmness, or by abfence; all's in anger.

MEN. Only fair speech.

COM. I think, 'twill serve, if he

Can thereto frame his spirit.

VOL. He muft, and will:

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

COR. Muft I go show them my

unbarb'd fconce? Muft I

With my bafe tongue give to my noble heart

A lie, that it must bear? Well, I will do't:
Yet were there but this fingle plot to lofe,

This mould of Marcius, they to duft fhould grind it,
And throw it against the wind. To the market-place:-
You have put me now to fuch a part, which never
I fhall discharge to the life.

COм. Come, come, we'll prompt you.

VOL. I pr'ythee now, fweet fon; as thou haft said, My praises made thee first a soldier, so,

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

COR. Well, I must do't :

Away, my difpofition, and poffefs me

Some harlot's fpirit! 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 schoolboys' tears take up
The glaffes of my fight! 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:
Left I furcease to honour mine own truth,

And, by my body's action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.

VOL. At thy choice then :

let

To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin ;
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous ftoutnefs; for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou lift.
Thy valiantness was mine, thou fuck'dft it from me;
But owe thy pride thyfelf.

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 conful;

Or never truft to what my tongue can do

I' the way of flattery, further.

VOL. DO your will.

[Exit.

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

To answer mildly; for they are prepar'd

With accufations, as I hear, more strong

Than are upon you yet.

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

Let them accufe me by invention, I

Will anfwer in mine honour.

MEN. Ay, but mildly.

COR. Well, mildly be it then; mildly.

SCENE III. The fame. The Forum.

Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.

[Exeunt.

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

Tyrannical power: If he evade us thére,

Enforce him with his envy to the people;

And that the spoil, got on the Antiates,

Was ne'er diftributed.

Enter an EDILE.

What, will he come?

ÆD. He's coming.

BRU. How accompanied?

ED. With old Menenius, and those fenators

That always favour'd him.

SIC. Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procur'd,
Set down by the poll?

ÆD. I have; 'tis ready, here.

SIC. Have you collected them by tribes?
ED. I have.

SIC. Affemble prefently the people hither:
And when they hear me say, It shall be fo
I' the right and ftrength o' the commons, be it either
For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them,
If I fay, fine, cry fine; if death, cry death;
Infifting on the old prerogative

And power i' the truth o' the cause.

ED. I fhall inform them.

BRU. And when fuch time they have begun to cry, Let them not ceafe, but with a din confus'd

Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to fentence.

ED. Very well.

SIG. Make them be ftrong, and ready for this hint, When we shall hap to give't them.

BRU. Go about it.

[Exit EDILE.

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

Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot
Be rein'd again to temperance; then he fpeaks
What's in his heart; and that is there, which looks
With us to break his neck.

Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, SENA
TORS, and PATRICIANS.

SIC. Well, here he comes.

MEN. Calmly, I do befeech you.

COR. Ay, as an oftler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume. The honour'd gods

Keep Rome in fafety, and the chairs of justice
Supply'd with worthy men! plant love among us!
Throng our large temples with the shows of peace,

And not our streets with war!

1 SEN. Amen, amen! MEN. A noble wish.

Re-enter EDILE, with CITIZENS.

SIC. Draw near, ye people.

ÆD. Lift to your tribunes; audience: Peace, I fay. COR. First, hear me speak.

BOTH TRI. Well, fay.-Peace, ho.

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

SIC. I do demand,

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

To fuffer lawful cenfure for fuch faults
As fhall be prov'd upon you?

COR. I am content.

MEN. Lo, citizens, he fays, he is content :

The warlike fervice he has done, confider;
Think on the wounds his body bears, which fhow
Like graves i'the holy churchyard.

COR. Scratches with briars,

Scars to move laughter only.
MEN. Confider further,

That when he speaks not like a citizen,
You find him like a foldier: Do not take
His rougher accents for malicious founds,
But, as I fay, fuch as become a foldier,
Rather than envy you.

COм. Well, well, no more.
COR. What is the matter,