The hazard of much blood.

I would dissemble with my nature, where
My fortunes, and my friends, at stake, requir'd
I should do so in honour: I am in this,

Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;
And you will rather show our general lowts

How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon them,
For the inheritance of their loves, and safeguard
Of what that want might ruin.

Men.

Noble lady! Come, go with us; speak fair: you may salve so, Not what is dangerous present, but the loss

Of what is past.

Vol.

I prithee now, my son,
Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand;

And thus far having stretch'd it, (here be with them,)
Thy knee bussing the stones, (for in such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant
More learned than the ears,) waving thy head,
Which often, thus,-correcting thy stout heart,a
Now humble, as the ripest mulberry

That will not hold the handling: Ör, say to them,
Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils,
Hast not the soft way, which, thou dost confess,
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,
In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far

As thou hast power and person.

Men.

This but done, Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours:

This passage has been a stumbling-block to the commentators; and they want to know how the waving the head corrects the stout heart. They have forgotten the maxim which Volumnia has just uttered, "Action is eloquence." She is explaining her meaning by her action:-waving thy head, which often wave-thus-(and she then waves her head several times). She adds, "correcting thy stout heart," be "humble as the ripest mulberry."

For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free
As words to little purpose.

Vol.

Prithee now

Go, and be rul'd: although I know thou hadst 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, sir, 't is fit

You make strong party, or defend yourself

By calmness, or by absence; all 's in anger.
Men. Only fair speech.

Com.

Can thereto frame his spirit.

Vol.

I think 't will serve, if he

He must, and will:

Prithee now say you will, and go about it.

Cor. Must I go show them my unbarb'd sconce ? Must I,

With my base tongue, give to my noble heart

A lie, that it must bear? Well, I will do 't:

Yet were there but this single plot to lose,

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

Com.

Come, come, we 'll prompt you. Vol. I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said, My praises made thee first a soldier, so,

To have my praise for this, perform a part

Thou hast not done before.

Cor.

Well, I must do 't:

Away my disposition, and possess me

Some harlot's spirit! 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 glasses of my sight! 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:
Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth,
And, by my body's action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.

Vol.

At thy choice then:
To beg of thee it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness; for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list.

Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me;
But owe thy pride thyself.

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 consul;
Or never trust to what my tongue can do

I' the way of flattery, further.

Vol.

Do your will.

[Exit.

Com. Away! the tribunes do attend you: arm

yourself

To answer mildly; for they are prepar'd

With accusations, as I hear, more strong

Than are upon you yet.

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

Let them accuse me by invention, I

Will answer in mine honour.

Men.

Ay, but mildly.

[Exeunt.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then; mildly.

SCENE III-The same.

The Market-place.

Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.

Bru. 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 Edile.

What, will he come ?

Ed.

He's coming.

Bru.

How accompanied?

Ed. With old Menenius, and those senators
That always favour'd him.

Sic.
Of all the voices that we have procur'd,

Set down by the poll?

Have you a catalogue

I have; 't is ready.

Ed.
Sic. Have you collected them by tribes?
Ed.

I have.

Sic. Assemble presently the people hither: And when they hear 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 "deatn;"
Insisting on the old prerogative

And power i' the truth o' the cause.

Ed.

I shall inform them/

Bru. And when such time they have begun to cry, Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd

Enforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentence.

Ed.

Very well.

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

Bru.

Go about it.

[Exit Ædile.

Put him to choler straight: 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 speaks
What's in his heart: and that is there which looks
With us to break his neck.

Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, Senators, and Patricians.

Sic. Well, here he comes.

Men.

Calmly, I do beseech you. Cor. 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 us! Throng our large temples with the shows of peace, And not our streets with war!

I Sen.

Men. A noble wish.

Amen, amen!

Re-enter Edile, with Citizens.

Sic. Draw near, ye people.

Ed. List to your tribunes; audience: Peace, I say!

Cor. First, hear me speak.

Both Tri.

Well, say.-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 suffer lawful censure for such faults
As shall be prov'd upon you?

Cor.

I am content.

Men. Lo, citizens, he says he is content:
The warlike service he has done, consider;

Think on the wounds his body bears, which show
Like graves i' the holy churchyard.

VOL. X.

F