The hazard of much blood. I would dissemble with my nature, where Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles; How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon them, 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, And thus far having stretch'd it, (here be with them,) That will not hold the handling: Ör, say to them, 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 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. 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, 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, 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 Vol. At thy choice then: Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me; Cor. Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves, 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 And that the spoil, got on the Antiates, Enter an Edile. What, will he come ? Ed. He's coming. Bru. How accompanied? Ed. With old Menenius, and those senators Sic. Set down by the poll? Have you a catalogue I have; 't is ready. 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 If I say, fine, cry "fine;" if death, cry "deatn;" 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 Of contradiction: Being once chaf'd, he cannot 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, Cor. I am content. Men. Lo, citizens, he says he is content: Think on the wounds his body bears, which show VOL. X. F |