The Thwartings of your difpofitions, if
You had not fhew'd them how you were difpos'd
Ere they lack'd power to crofs you.

Cor. Let them hang.

Vol, Ay, and burn too.

Enter Menenius, with the Senators.

Men. Come, come, you've been too rough, famething too rough:...

You must return, and mend it.

Sen. There's no remedy,
Unless, by not fo doing, our good City
Cleave in the midft, and perifh.

Vol. Pray, be counfell'd;

I have a heart as little apt as yours,
But yet a brain that leads my use of anger
To better vantage.

Men. Well faid, noble woman :

* Before he should thus ftoop to th' Herd, but that The violent fit o'th' times craves it as phyfic

For the whole State, I'd put mine armour on,
Which I can scarcely bear.

Cor. What must I do?

Men. Return to th' Tribunes.

Cor. Well, what then? what then?

Men. Repent what you have spoke.

Cor. For them?—I cannot do it for the Gods, Muft I then do't to them?

Vol. You are too absolute,,

Tho' therein you can never be too noble,

But when Extremities fpeak. I've heard you fay, "
Honour and policy, like unfever'd Friends,

I'th' war do grow together: grant That, and tell me
In peace, what each of them by th' other loses,
That they combine not there?

Before he thus fhould floop to the Heart] This nonfenfe should be reformed thus,

Before he thus fhould stoop to th' Herd.. i. e. the People.

Cor.

"

Cor. Tufh, tush

Men. A good demand.

Vol. If it be honour in your wars, to seem
The fame you are not, which for your beft ends
You call your policy; how is't lefs, or worse,
That it fhall hold companionfhip in peace
With Honour, as in War; fince that to both
It ftands in like request?

Cor. Why force you this?

Vol. Because it lies on you to speak to th' People:
Not by your own inftruction, nor by th' matter
Which your heart prompts you to, but with fuch
words

But roated in your tongue; baftards, and fyllables
Of no allowance, to your bofom's truth.
Now, this no more dishonours you at all,
Than to take in a Town with gentle words,
Which elfe would put you to your fortune, and
The hazard of much blood.-

I would diffemble with my nature, where
My fortunes, and my friends, at stake requir'd,
I fhould do fo in honour. I am in this

Your Wife, your Son, these Senators, the Nobles.-
And you will rather fhew our general lowts

How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon 'em,
For the inheritance of their loves, and fafeguard
Of what that Want might ruin!

Men. Noble Lady!

Come, go with us, speak fair: you may falve fo
Not what is dangerous prefent, but the loss
Of what is past.

Vol. I pr'ythee 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 buffing the ftones; (for in fuch bufinefs
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th' ignorant
More learned than the ears ;) waving thy hand,
Which foften thus, correcting thy ftout heart,

Now

Now humble as the ripeft Mulberry,

That will not hold the handling: or fay to them,
Thou art their Soldier, and, being bred in broils,
Haft not the foft way, which thou doft confefs
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,
In alking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyfelf (forfooth) hereafter theirs so far,
As thou haft power and perfon.

Men. This but done,

Ev'n as she speaks, why, all their hearts were yours:
For they have pardons, being afk'd, as free,
As words to little purpose.

Vol. Pr'ythee now,

Go and be rul'd: altho', I know, thou'dft rather
Follow thine enemy in a fiery Gulf

Than flatter him in a bower.

Enter Cominius.

Here is Cominius.

Com. I've been i'th' Market-place, and, Sir, 'tis fit You have ftrong Party, or defend yourself By calmness, or by abfence: all's in anger. Men. Only, fair speech.

Com. I think, 'twill ferve, if he Can thereto frame his fpirit.

Vol. He muft and will:

Pr'ythee now, fay you will, and go about it.

Cor. Muft I go fhew them my unbarbed fconce?
Muft my base tongue give to my noble heart
A lie, that it muft bear? well, I will do't:
Yet were there but this single Plot to lose,

This mould of Marcius, they to duft fhould grind it,
And throw't against the wind. To th' Market-place!
You've put me now to such a Part, which never
I fhall difcharge to th' life.

Com. Come, come, we'll prompt you.

Vol. Ay, pr'ythee now, fweet Son; as thou haft faid, My praifes made thee firft a Soldier, so,

To

To have my praise for this, perform a Part
Thou haft not done before.

Cor. Well, I must do't:

Away, my Difpofition, and poffefs me
Some Harlot's spirit! my throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my dram, into a pipe
Small as an Eunuch, or the Virgin's voice
That Babies lulls afleep! the fmiles of Knaves
Tent in my cheeks, and fchool-boys' tears take up
The glafles of my fight! a Beggar's tongue.
Make motion through my lips, and my arm'd knees,
Which bow'd but in my flirrup, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms! I will not do't,-
Left I furceafe to honour mine own truth,
And, by my body's action, teach my mind,
A moft inherent bafenefs.

Vol. At thy choice then:

To beg of thee, it is my more difhonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin, let
Thy Mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous ftoutnefs: for I mock at Death
With as big heart as thou. Do, as thou lift:
Thy valiantnefs was mine: thou fuck'dft it from me:
But own thy pride thyself.

Cor. Pray, be content:

Mother, I'm 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.

Commend me to my wife.

Lock, I am going:

I'll return Conful,

[Exit Volumnia.`

Or never truft to what my tongue can do

I'th' way of flattery further.

Vol. Do your will.

Com. -Away, the Tribunes do attend you: arm Yourself to answer mildly: for they're prepar'd With accufations, as I hear, more ftrong

Than are upon you yet.

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

Let

Let them accufe me by invention; I
Will answer in mine honour.

Men. Ay, but mildly.

Cor. Well, mildly be it then, mildly. [Exeunt.

Bru.

IN

SCENE. VI.
Changes to the FORUM.

Enter Sicinius and Brutus.

N this point charge him home, that he affects Tyrannic Power: if he evade us there, Inforce him with his envy to the People, And that the Spoil, got on the Antiates, Was ne'er diftributed. What, will he come? Enter an Edile.

Ed. He's coming.

Bru. How accompanied?

Ed. With old Menenius, and thofe Senators

That always favour'd him.

Sic. Have you a catalogue

Of all the voices that we have procur'd,
Set down by th' poll?

Ed. I have; 'tis ready, here.

Sic. Have you collected them by Tribes?
Ed. I have.

Sic. Affemble prefently the People hither,
And, when they hear me fay, It shall be so,

I'th' right and ftrength o'th' Commons; (be it either For Death, for Fine, or Banifhment,) then let them, If I fay Fine, cry Fine; if Death, cry Death; Infifting on the old Prerogative

And Power i'th' truth o'th' Caufe.

Ed. I will inform them.

Bru. And when fuch time they have begun to cry, Let them not ceafe, but with a Din confus'd Inforce the present execution

Of what we chance to sentance.

Ed.