Death on the wheel, or at wild horses' heels; 1 Pat. Enter VOLUMNIA. You do the nobler. Cor. I muse, my mother Does not approve me further, who was wont To speak of peace, or war. I talk of you; [TO VOLUMNIA. Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me Faise to my nature? Rather say, I play "The man I am. Vol. O, sir, sir, sir, I would have had you put your power Cor. well on, Let go. Vol. You might have been enough the man you are, With striving less to be so: Lesser had been You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd Ere they lack'd power to cross you. Cor. Vol. Ay, and burn too. Let them hang. 9 I muse,] That is, I wonder, I am at a loss. my ordinance-] My rank. 1 Enter MENENIUS, and Senators. Men. Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough; You must return, and mend it. 1 Sen. There's no remedy; Unless, by not so doing, our good city Vol. Pray be counsel'd: I have a heart as little apt as yours, Men. anger, Well said, noble woman: Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that Cor. What must I do? Men. Cor. Return to the tribunes. Well, Repent what you have spoke. What then? what then? Men. Cor. For them?-I cannot do it to the gods; Must I then do't to them? Vol. You are too absolute; Though therein you can never be too noble, I' the war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me, Cor. 2. You are too absolute; Tush, tush! Though therein you can never be too noble, But when extremities speak.] Except in cases of urgent necessity, when your resolute and noble spirit, however commendable at other times, ought to yield to the occasion. Men. A good demand. With honour, as in war; since that to both Cor. Why force you3 this? '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, Why force you-] Why urge you. 4 bastards, and syllables Noble lady!-you may salve so, but the loss Of no allowance, to your bosom's truth.] I read: " of no alliance;" therefore bastards. Yet allowance may well enough stand, as meaning legal right, established rank, or settled authority. 5 Than to take in a town-] To subdue or destroy. our general lowts-] Our common clowns. 7 that want-] The want of their loves. JOHNSON. Of what is past. And thus far having stretch'd it, (here be with them,) Now will not hold the handling: Or, say to them, This but done, Men. Even as she speaks, why, all their hearts were yours: For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free As words to little purpose. Vol. Pr'ythee 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, You make strong party, or defend yourself Com. I think, 'twill serve, if he Can thereto frame his spirit. Pr'ythee, now, say, you will, He must, and will:and go about it. Cor. Must I go Must I' show them my unbarb'd sconce ? With my base tongue, give to my noble heart This mould of Marcius, they to dust should grind it, And throw it against the wind. To the marketplace: 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 pr'ythee 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, That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves 2 Tent in my cheeks; and school-boys' tears take up Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd knees, Vol. my unbarb'd sconce?] Unbarbed sconce is untrimmed or unshaven head. 9 single plot-] i. e. piece, portion; applied to a piece of earth, and here elegantly transferred to the body, carcase. * Which quired with my drum,] Which played in concert with my drum. Tent in my cheeks;] To tent is to take up residence. |