May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take
The one by the other.

Com.

Well, on to the market-place. Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o' the storehouse gratis, as 'twas used Sometime in Greece,—

Men.

Well, well, no more of that.

Cor. Though there the people had more abso

lute power,

I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed

The ruin of the state.

Was not our recompense, resting well assured
They ne'er did service for 't: being press'd to the

war,

Even when the navel of the state was touch'd, They would not thread the gates. This kind of

service

Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i' the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd
Most valour, spoke not for them: the accusation
Which they have often made against the senate,
All cause unborn, could never be the motive
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bisson multitude digest
The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express
What's like to be their words: 'We did request it;
We are the greater poll, and in true fear

They gave us our demands.' Thus we debase
The nature of our seats and make the rabble

120

130

131. bisson multitude. So On 'bisson' cf. note to ii. I. Dyce. Ff'bosome-multiplied.' 70.

Call our cares fears; which will in time

Break ope the locks o' the senate and bring in
The crows to peck the eagles.

Men.

Come, enough.

Bru. Enough, with over-measure. Cor. No, take more: 140 What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Seal what I end withal! This double worship, Where one part does disdain with cause, the other Insult without all reason, where gentry, title, wisdom,

Cannot conclude but by the yea and no

Of general ignorance, it must omit

Real necessities, and give way the while

To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows,

Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech

you,

You that will be less fearful than discreet,

That love the fundamental part of state

More than you doubt the change on 't, that prefer
A noble life before a long, and wish

To jump a body with a dangerous physic
That's sure of death without it, at once pluck out
The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick
The sweet which is their poison: your dishonour
Mangles true judgement and bereaves the state
Of that integrity which should become 't,
Not having the power to do the good it would,
For the ill which doth control't.

Bru.

'Has said enough;

Sic. 'Has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer

As traitors do.

Cor. Thou wretch, despite o'erwhelm thee!

144. without all, without any, or beyond all.

154. To jump, to imperil.

150

160

What should the people do with these bald tri

bunes?

On whom depending, their obedience fails

To the greater bench: in a rebellion,

When what's not meet, but what must be, was law,
Then were they chosen: in a better hour,
Let what is meet be said it must be meet,

And throw their power i' the dust.

Bru. Manifest treason!

Sic.

Bru. The ædiles, ho!

This a consul? no.

Enter an Edile.

Let him be apprehended.

Sic. Go, call the people: [Exit Edile] in

whose name myself

Attach thee as a traitorous innovator,

A foe to the public weal: obey, I charge thee,

And follow to thine answer.

Cor.

Hence, old goat!

Aged sir, hands off.

Senators, etc. We'll surety him.

Com.

Cor. Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy

bones

Out of thy garments.

Sic.

Help, ye citizens !

Enter a rabble of Citizens (Plebeians) with the

Ediles.

Men. On both sides more respect.

Sic. Here's he that would take from you all

your power.

Bru. Seize him, ædiles!

165. bald, witless (chauve d'esprit'; bauld-spirited; that hath as little wit in, as he hath

170

180

hair on, his head.'-Cotgrave, quot. Wright).

Citizens. Down with him! down with him! Senators, etc. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [They all bustle about Coriolanus, crying

Patricians!' 'Citizens !' 'What,

'Sicinius!' 'Brutus !' 'Coriolanus!' 'Citizens !' 'Peace, peace, peace!' 'Stay, hold, peace!'

Men. What is about to be? I am out of breath; Confusion's near; I cannot speak. You, tribunes 190 To the people! Coriolanus, patience!

Speak, good Sicinius.

Sic.

Hear me, people; peace!

Citizens. Let's hear our tribune: peace!

Speak, speak, speak.

Sic. You are at point to lose your liberties:
Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,
Whom late you have named for consul.

Men.
Fie, fie, fie!
This is the way to kindle, not to quench.
First Sen. To unbuild the city and to lay all flat.
Sic. What is the city but the people?

Citizens.

The people are the city.

True,

200

Bru. By the consent of all, we were establish'd

The people's magistrates.

Citizens.

You so remain.

Men. And so are like to do.

Com. That is the way to lay the city flat;

To bring the roof to the foundation,

And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges,

In heaps and piles of ruin.

This deserves death.

Sic.
Bru. Or let us stand to our authority,

Or let us lose it.

We do here pronounce,

Upon the part o' the people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy

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Of present death.

Sic.

Therefore lay hold of him;

Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence

Into destruction cast him.

Bru.

Ediles, seize him!

Hear me one word;

Citizens. Yield, Marcius, yield!

Men.

Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.

Ed. Peace, peace!

Men. [To Brutus] Be that you seem, truly your

country's friend,

And temperately proceed to what you would

Thus violently redress.

Bru.

Sir, those cold ways,

220

That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous Where the disease is violent. Lay hands upon

him,

And bear him to the rock.

Cor.

No, I'll die here.
[Drawing his sword.

There's some among you have beheld me fighting:
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.
Men. Down with that sword! Tribunes, with-
draw awhile.

Bru. Lay hands upon him.

Men.
Help Marcius, help,
You that be noble; help him, young and old!
Citizens. Down with him, down with him!

[In this mutiny, the Tribunes, the Ediles,
and the People, are beat in.

Men. Go, get you to your house; be gone,

away!

All will be naught else.

Sec. Sen.

Get you gone.

230

213. the rock Tarpeian, a precipice on the Capitol, whence criminals were thrown,