The Forum. Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS BRUTUS In this point charge him home, that he affects Tyrannical power: if he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people, And that the spoil got on the Antiates Was ne'er distributed.
Enter an AEdile What, will he come? AEdile He's coming. BRUTUS How accompanied? AEdile With old Menenius, and those senators That always favour'd him. SICINIUS Have you a catalogue Of all the voices that we have procured Set down by the poll? AEdile I have; 'tis ready. SICINIUS Have you collected them by tribes? AEdile I have. SICINIUS Assemble presently the people hither;
And when they bear me say 'It shall be so I' the right and strength o' the commons,' be it either For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them If I say fine, cry 'Fine;' if death, cry 'Death.'
Insisting on the old prerogative And power i' the truth o' the cause. AEdile I shall inform them. BRUTUS And when such time they have begun to cry, Let them not cease, but with a din confused Enforce the present execution Of what we chance to sentence. AEdile Very well. SICINIUS Make them be strong and ready for this hint, When we shall hap to give 't them. BRUTUS Go about it.
Exit AEdile Put him to choler straight: he hath been used Ever to conquer, and to have his worth Of contradiction: being once chafed, he cannot Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks What's in his heart; and that is there which looks With us to break his neck. SICINIUS Well, here he comes.
Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, and COMINIUS, with Senators and Patricians MENENIUS Calmly, I do beseech you. CORIOLANUS Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume. The honour'd gods Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice Supplied with worthy men! plant love among 's!
Throng our large temples with the shows of peace, And not our streets with war! First Senator Amen, amen. MENENIUS A noble wish.
Re-enter AEdile, with Citizens SICINIUS Draw near, ye people. AEdile List to your tribunes. Audience: peace, I say! CORIOLANUS First, hear me speak. Both Tribunes Well, say. Peace, ho! CORIOLANUS Shall I be charged no further than this present?
Must all determine here? SICINIUS I do demand, If you submit you to the people's voices, Allow their officers and are content To suffer lawful censure for such faults As shall be proved upon you? CORIOLANUS I am content. MENENIUS Lo, citizens, he says he is content:
The warlike service he has done, consider; think Upon the wounds his body bears, which show Like graves i' the holy churchyard. CORIOLANUS Scratches with briers, Scars to move laughter only. MENENIUS Consider further, That when he speaks not like a citizen, You find him like a soldier: do not take His rougher accents for malicious sounds, But, as I say, such as become a soldier, Rather than envy you. COMINIUS Well, well, no more. CORIOLANUS What is the matter That being pass'd for consul with full voice, I am so dishonour'd that the very hour You take it off again? SICINIUS Answer to us. CORIOLANUS Say, then: 'tis true, I ought so. SICINIUS We charge you, that you have contrived to take From Rome all season'd office and to wind Yourself into a power tyrannical;
For which you are a traitor to the people. CORIOLANUS How! traitor! MENENIUS Nay, temperately; your promise. CORIOLANUS The fires i' the lowest hell fold-in the people!
