Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,

That our best water brought by conduits hither;
And Censorinus, darling of the people,

And nobly nam'd so, twice being censor,
Was his great ancestor.

Sic. One thus descended,

That hath beside well in his person wrought
To be set high in place, we did commend
Το your remembrances: but you have found,
Scaling his present bearing with his past,
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
Your sudden approbation.

Bru. Say, you ne'er had don't,

(Harp on that still) but by our putting on :

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750

And presently, when you have drawn your number,

Repair to the Capitol.

All. We will so: almost all

Repent in their election.

Bru. Let them go on;

[Exeunt Citizens.

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

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The vantage of his anger.

Sic. To the Capitol, come;

We will be there before the stream o' the people;
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward.

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT III. SCENE I.

A Street. Cornets. Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators.

Coriolanus.

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 Volsces stand but as at first; Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road Upon us again.

Com. They are worn, lord consul, so,

That we shall hardly in our ages see

Their banners wave again.

Cor. Saw you Aufidius ?

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Lart. On safeguard he came to me; and did curse Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely

Yielded the town: he is retir'd to Antium.

Cor. Spoke he of me?

Lart. He did, my lord.
Cor. 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?

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Lart.

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,
The tongues o' the common mouth. I do despise

them;

For they do prank them in authority,

Against all noble sufferance.

Sic. Pass no further.

Cor. Ha! what is that?

Bru. It will be dangerous to go on : no further.

Cor. What makes this change?

Men. The matter?

Com. Hath he not pass'd the nobles, and the com

mons?

Bra. Cominius, no.

Cor. Have I had children's voices?

Sen. Tribunes, give way; he shall to the marketplace.

Bru. The people are incens'd against him.

Sic. Stop,

Or all will fall in broil.

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Cor. Are these your

herd?

Must these have voices, that can yield them now,

And straight disclaim their tongues?-What are your

offices?

You

You being their mouths, why rule you not their

teeth?

Have you not set 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 such as cannot rule,

Nor ever will be rul'd.

Bru. Call't not a plot :

The people cry, you mock'd them; and, of late, When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd; Scandal'd the suppliants for the people; call'd them Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.

Cor. Why, this was known before.

Bru. Not to them all.

Cor. Have you inform'd them since ?

Bru. How! I inform them!

Cor. You are like to do such business.

Bru. Not unlike,

Each way, to better your's.

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60

Cor. Why then should I be consul? By yon clouds, Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me

Your fellow tribune.

Sic. You shew too much of that,

For which the people stir: If you will pass

To where you are bound, you must inquire your way,

Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit;

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Or never be so noble as a consul,

Nor yoke with him for tribune.

Men. Let's be calm.

Com

Com. The people are abus'd :-Set on.—This pal

t'ring

Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus

Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely
I' the plain way of his merit.

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.-My nobler friends, I crave their pardons

-:

For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them
Regard me as I do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves: I say again,

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In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd, and
scatter'd,

By mingling them with us, the honour'd number;
Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that 91
Which they 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 fearing outward force, so shall my lungs
Coin words 'till their decay, against those meazels,
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought
The very way to catch them.

Bru. You speak o' the people,

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