登陆注册
4605900000021

第21章

It makes the consuls base: and my soul aches To know, when two authorities are up, Neither supreme, how soon confusion May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take The one by the other. COMINIUS Well, on to the market-place. CORIOLANUS Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o' the storehouse gratis, as 'twas used Sometime in Greece,-- MENENIUS Well, well, no more of that. CORIOLANUS Though there the people had more absolute power, I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed The ruin of the state. BRUTUS Why, shall the people give One that speaks thus their voice? CORIOLANUS I'll give my reasons, More worthier than their voices. They know the corn Was not our recompense, resting well assured That 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 Call our cares fears; which will in time Break ope the locks o' the senate and bring in The crows to peck the eagles. MENENIUS Come, enough. BRUTUS Enough, with over-measure. CORIOLANUS No, take more:

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 judgment and bereaves the state Of that integrity which should become't, Not having the power to do the good it would, For the in which doth control't. BRUTUS Has said enough. SICINIUS Has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer As traitors do. CORIOLANUS Thou wretch, despite o'erwhelm thee!

What should the people do with these bald tribunes?

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. BRUTUS Manifest treason! SICINIUS This a consul? no. BRUTUS The aediles, ho!

Enter an AEdile Let him be apprehended. SICINIUS Go, call the people:

Exit AEdile 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. CORIOLANUS Hence, old goat!

Senators, & C We'll surety him. COMINIUS Aged sir, hands off. CORIOLANUS Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy garments. SICINIUS Help, ye citizens!

Enter a rabble of Citizens (Plebeians), with the AEdiles MENENIUS On both sides more respect. SICINIUS Here's he that would take from you all your power. BRUTUS Seize him, AEdiles! Citizens Down with him! down with him!

Senators, & C Weapons, weapons, weapons!

They all bustle about CORIOLANUS, crying 'Tribunes!' 'Patricians!' 'Citizens!' 'What, ho!'

'Sicinius!' 'Brutus!' 'Coriolanus!' 'Citizens!'

'Peace, peace, peace!' 'Stay, hold, peace!' MENENIUS What is about to be? I am out of breath;

Confusion's near; I cannot speak. You, tribunes To the people! Coriolanus, patience!

Speak, good Sicinius. SICINIUS Hear me, people; peace! Citizens Let's hear our tribune: peace Speak, speak, speak. SICINIUS You are at point to lose your liberties:

Marcius would have all from you; Marcius, Whom late you have named for consul. MENENIUS Fie, fie, fie!

This is the way to kindle, not to quench. First Senator To unbuild the city and to lay all flat. SICINIUS What is the city but the people? Citizens True, The people are the city. BRUTUS By the consent of all, we were establish'd The people's magistrates. Citizens You so remain. MENENIUS And so are like to do. COMINIUS 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. SICINIUS This deserves death. BRUTUS 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 Of present death. SICINIUS Therefore lay hold of him;

Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence Into destruction cast him. BRUTUS AEdiles, seize him! Citizens Yield, Marcius, yield! MENENIUS Hear me one word;

同类推荐
  • The Gilded Age

    The Gilded Age

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 慧命经

    慧命经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 随缘集

    随缘集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说无二平等最上瑜伽大教王经

    佛说无二平等最上瑜伽大教王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE HAUNTED MAN and the Ghost's Bargain

    THE HAUNTED MAN and the Ghost's Bargain

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 寻龙魔妃

    寻龙魔妃

    一个被龙养大的小女孩儿,因为一场忽如其来的灾难,她踏上了寻龙之旅。为了让自己变得更加强大她离开了森林来到人类世界,在这里认识了许多共患难的朋友。幻魂觉醒,强者之路上,她发现了自己身世的秘密,二十八神秘钥匙,被封闭得大陆隐藏着怎样惊天的秘密。天道无情,那我便破了这天又如何。还有那个每天晚上都偷偷跑到她闺房的男人,你是魔都帝尊,注意点儿形象好么,老牛吃嫩草,你是怎么下得了口的。某帝尊:媳妇都要从小养起,要不然被拐跑了咋办。
  • 锐读(第4期·悬疑新主张)

    锐读(第4期·悬疑新主张)

    《惊奇档案》专栏编辑,觅骨寻踪,亲历惊奇与惊险,探寻神秘的不可思议,用科学的态度解读怪谈与诡闻。
  • 消逝的爱人

    消逝的爱人

    生长于小镇的奥黛丽,与庄园未来继承人爱得拉是从小的青梅竹马。一场毕业舞会,他向她求婚。一个心中原因,她拒绝了他。黑夜,他沉醉酒吧,被一直深爱着他,奥黛丽最好的闺蜜乌利娜趁机而入。酒醉情迷之后。得知被背叛的奥黛丽不久接手书店生意,却意外结识只在冬天下雪才会出现的神秘的戴纳。而爱得拉也从未想过放弃她。他一直坚信在横跨时空的彩虹下,他们的承诺。一段儿时回忆,一抹真爱感动;一个融合爱恨纠葛的凄凉故事怆然铺展,一曲潸然泪下的生死悲欢徐徐上演……
  • 升职其实很简单:快速升职必备手册

    升职其实很简单:快速升职必备手册

    做了那么多年普通员工,准不想当领导?但不是每个人都能当得了领导!当领导,当然不是靠运气,也不是靠溜须拍马的功夫,而是要靠实力和脑力!领导很忙,但绝不是瞎忙,而是在运筹帷幄,带领团队决胜千里。要想坐上领导的位置,成为一流的管理者,你首先就要知道作为领导者的必备素养!本书从10个方面剖析了领导工作中的秘密,揭示了成为一一流管理者的必备素养。并告诉每一位有志攀上事业高峰的人,作为领导应该怎样思维、怎样行动、怎样超越,并提出切实可行的办法,让你合上书就用得上。顺利迎来人生的辉煌。
  • 彼岸没有风景

    彼岸没有风景

    在这个城市里,夏天永远是令人烦躁不安的酷热而多雨的季节。生活在夏日里暴露出眩目而多变的一面。一向自以为聪明的思佳在这个夏天里突然发现自己的心绪竟也如天空中的云彩一般越来越琢磨不定了。这天是星期天,作为机关职员的思佳终于可以躺在床上耐心数着阳光里漂浮的尘埃了,但是天气太热,躺在床上,浑身有种粘湿的感觉,还不如干脆起床。思佳坐起来,她想太阳不知到哪个位置了,听那知了声嘶力竭地尖叫就能猜到天空一准蓝得像看不到边的海水。做了一夜的恶梦,她感到头昏昏沉沉的,眼皮子很重,一照镜子,看见一个半死不活的丑八怪,自己倒吓了一跳,心情益发好不起来。
  • 励志故事(语文新课标课外必读第八辑)

    励志故事(语文新课标课外必读第八辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • 灵龙传

    灵龙传

    只有强者,才有资格傲视天下。这一世我与你浪迹天涯,哪怕三千强敌又何妨。凭着心中的梦想和热血,我要保护自己心爱的人,杀、杀、杀!只有在敌人的尸体上,才可以站得更高,一个少年的修仙巅峰梦。
  • 如何掌控你的生活

    如何掌控你的生活

    掌控自己财富的最好方法,就是向在财富上已经取得成功的人学习。本书概括了数十位亿万富翁的财富理念,他们是:比尔·盖茨、洛克菲勒、萨姆·沃尔顿、李嘉诚;犹太人、美国人……这些精彩实用的财富理念,将使你真正掌握获得金钱,保存金钱以及用金钱赚取更多金钱的全部秘密。
  • Bramble-bees and Others

    Bramble-bees and Others

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 群雄争霸:中国历史演义春秋战国篇

    群雄争霸:中国历史演义春秋战国篇

    公元前770年,周平王将都城从镐京迁到了洛邑。因为镐京在西边,所以历史上就把周朝京都在镐京的时期称为西周;洛邑在东边,就把平王东迁以后到秦统一中国前这一时期叫做东周。