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tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude, of the which we being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members. FIRST CITIZEN. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve; for once we stood up about the
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corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude. THIRD CITIZEN. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured; and truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, they would fly east,
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west, north, south, and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o th compass. SECOND CITIZEN. Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly? THIRD CITIZEN. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another mans will; tis strongly wedged up in a blockhead. But if it were
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at liberty, twould, sure, southward. SECOND CITIZEN. Why that way? THIRD CITIZEN. To lose itself in a fog, where being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife. SECOND CITIZEN. You are never without your tricks. You may, you may. THIRD CITIZEN. Are you all resolved to
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give your voices? But thats no matter; the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man. Enter Coriolanus in a gown of humility, with Menenius. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility. Mark his behaviour. We are not to stay all together, but to come by him
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where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. Hes to make his requests by particulars, wherein everyone of us has a single honour in giving him our own voices with our own tongues. Therefore follow me, and Ill direct you how you shall go by him. ALL. Content, content. [_Exeunt._] MENENIUS. O sir, you are not right. Have
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you not known The worthiest men have donet? CORIOLANUS. What must I say? I pray, sirplague upont! I cannot bring My tongue to such a pace. Look, sir, my wounds! I got them in my countrys service when Some certain of your brethren roared and ran From th noise of our own drums. MENENIUS. O me, the gods! You must
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not speak of that. You must desire them To think upon you. CORIOLANUS. Think upon me! Hang em! I would they would forget me, like the virtues Which our divines lose by em. MENENIUS. Youll mar all. Ill leave you. Pray you speak to em, I pray you, In wholesome manner. [_Exit Menenius._] CORIOLANUS. Bid them wash their faces And
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keep their teeth clean. Enter three of the Citizens. So, here comes a brace. You know the cause, sirs, of my standing here. THIRD CITIZEN. We do, sir. Tell us what hath brought you tot. CORIOLANUS. Mine own desert. SECOND CITIZEN. Your own desert? CORIOLANUS. Ay, but not mine own desire. THIRD CITIZEN. How, not your own desire? CORIOLANUS. No,
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sir, twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging. THIRD CITIZEN. You must think if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you. CORIOLANUS. Well then, I pray, your price o th consulship? FIRST CITIZEN. The price is to ask it kindly. CORIOLANUS. Kindly, sir, I pray, let me hat. I have wounds to show
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you, which shall be yours in private.Your good voice, sir. What say you? SECOND CITIZEN. You shall ha it, worthy sir. CORIOLANUS. A match, sir. Theres in all two worthy voices begged. I have your alms. Adieu. THIRD CITIZEN. But this is something odd. SECOND CITIZEN. An twere to give againbut tis no matter. [_Exeunt two citizens._] Enter two other
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Citizens. CORIOLANUS. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown. FOURTH CITIZEN. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly. CORIOLANUS. Your enigma? FOURTH CITIZEN. You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to
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her friends. You have not indeed loved the common people. CORIOLANUS. You should account me the more virtuous that I have not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; tis a condition they account gentle. And since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have
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my hat than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod and be off to them most counterfeitly. That is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man and give it bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul. FIFTH CITIZEN. We hope to find you our friend, and therefore give you our voices heartily.
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FOURTH CITIZEN. You have received many wounds for your country. CORIOLANUS. I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices and so trouble you no farther. BOTH CITIZENS. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily. [_Exeunt citizens._] CORIOLANUS. Most sweet voices! Better it is to die, better to starve, Than crave the hire
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which first we do deserve. Why in this wolvish toge should I stand here To beg of Hob and Dick that does appear Their needless vouches? Custom calls me tot. What custom wills, in all things should we dot? The dust on antique time would lie unswept And mountainous error be too highly heaped For truth to oerpeer. Rather than
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fool it so, Let the high office and the honour go To one that would do thus. I am half through; The one part suffered, the other will I do. Enter three Citizens more. Here come more voices. Your voices! For your voices I have fought; Watched for your voices; for your voices bear Of wounds two dozen odd. Battles
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thrice six I have seen and heard of; for your voices have Done many things, some less, some more. Your voices! Indeed, I would be consul. SIXTH CITIZEN. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest mans voice. SEVENTH CITIZEN. Therefore let him be consul. The gods give him joy, and make him good friend to the people!
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ALL THREE CITIZENS. Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul. [_Exeunt citizens._] CORIOLANUS. Worthy voices! Enter Menenius with Brutus and Sicinius. MENENIUS. You have stood your limitation, and the Tribunes Endue you with the peoples voice. Remains That in th official marks invested, you Anon do meet the Senate. CORIOLANUS. Is this done? SICINIUS. The custom of request you have
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discharged. The people do admit you, and are summoned To meet anon upon your approbation. CORIOLANUS. Where? At the Senate House? SICINIUS. There, Coriolanus. CORIOLANUS. May I change these garments? SICINIUS. You may, sir. CORIOLANUS. That Ill straight do and, knowing myself again, Repair to th Senate House. MENENIUS. Ill keep you company.Will you along? BRUTUS. We stay here for
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the people. SICINIUS. Fare you well. [_Exeunt Coriolanus and Menenius._] He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, Tis warm at his heart. BRUTUS. With a proud heart he wore His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people? Enter the Pebleians. SICINIUS. How now, my masters, have you chose this man? FIRST CITIZEN. He has our voices, sir. BRUTUS.
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We pray the gods he may deserve your loves. SECOND CITIZEN. Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice, He mocked us when he begged our voices. THIRD CITIZEN. Certainly, he flouted us downright. FIRST CITIZEN. No, tis his kind of speech. He did not mock us. SECOND CITIZEN. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says He used us scornfully.
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He should have showed us His marks of merit, wounds received fors country. SICINIUS. Why, so he did, I am sure. ALL. No, no. No man saw em. THIRD CITIZEN. He said he had wounds, which he could show in private, And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, I would be consul, says he; aged custom, But by
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your voices, will not so permit me; Your voices therefore. When we granted that, Here was I thank you for your voices. Thank you. Your most sweet voices! Now you have left your voices, I have no further with you. Was not this mockery? SICINIUS. Why either were you ignorant to seet Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness To
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yield your voices? BRUTUS. Could you not have told him As you were lessoned? When he had no power, But was a petty servant to the state, He was your enemy, ever spake against Your liberties and the charters that you bear I th body of the weal; and, now arriving A place of potency and sway o th state,
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If he should still malignantly remain Fast foe to th plebeii, your voices might Be curses to yourselves. You should have said That as his worthy deeds did claim no less Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature Would think upon you for your voices, and Translate his malice towards you into love, Standing your friendly lord. SICINIUS.
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Thus to have said, As you were fore-advised, had touched his spirit And tried his inclination; from him plucked Either his gracious promise, which you might, As cause had called you up, have held him to; Or else it would have galled his surly nature, Which easily endures not article Tying him to aught. So putting him to rage, You
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should have taen th advantage of his choler And passed him unelected. BRUTUS. Did you perceive He did solicit you in free contempt When he did need your loves, and do you think That his contempt shall not be bruising to you When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies No heart among you? Or had you tongues
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to cry Against the rectorship of judgment? SICINIUS. Have you ere now denied the asker, and now Again, of him that did not ask but mock, Bestow your sued-for tongues? THIRD CITIZEN. Hes not confirmed. We may deny him yet. SECOND CITIZEN. And will deny him. Ill have five hundred voices of that sound. FIRST CITIZEN. I twice five hundred,
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and their friends to piece em. BRUTUS. Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends They have chose a consul that will from them take Their liberties, make them of no more voice Than dogs that are as often beat for barking As therefore kept to do so. SICINIUS. Let them assemble And, on a safer judgment, all revoke Your
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ignorant election. Enforce his pride And his old hate unto you. Besides, forget not With what contempt he wore the humble weed, How in his suit he scorned you; but your loves, Thinking upon his services, took from you Th apprehension of his present portance, Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion After the inveterate hate he bears you. BRUTUS.
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Lay A fault on us, your tribunes, that we laboured, No impediment between, but that you must Cast your election on him. SICINIUS. Say you chose him More after our commandment than as guided By your own true affections, and that your minds, Preoccupied with what you rather must do Than what you should, made you against the grain To
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voice him consul. Lay the fault on us. BRUTUS. Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you, How youngly he began to serve his country, How long continued, and what stock he springs of, The noble house o th Martians, from whence came That Ancus Martius, Numas daughters son, Who, after great Hostilius here was king, Of the
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same house Publius and Quintus were, That our best water brought by conduits hither; And Censorinus, that was so surnamed, And nobly named so, twice being censor, Was his great ancestor. SICINIUS. One thus descended, That hath beside well in his person wrought To be set high in place, we did commend To your remembrances; but you have found, Scaling
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his present bearing with his past, That hes your fixed enemy, and revoke Your sudden approbation. BRUTUS. Say you neer had donet Harp on that stillbut by our putting on. And presently when you have drawn your number, Repair to th Capitol. ALL. We will so. Almost all Repent in their election. [_Exeunt Plebeians._] BRUTUS. Let them go on. This
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mutiny were better put in hazard Than stay, past doubt, for greater. If, as his nature is, he fall in rage With their refusal, both observe and answer The vantage of his anger. SICINIUS. To th Capitol, come. We will be there before the stream o th people, And this shall seem, as partly tis, their own, Which we have
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goaded onward. [_Exeunt._] ACT III SCENE I. Rome. A street Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, all the Gentry, Cominius, Titus Lartius and other Senators. CORIOLANUS. Tullus Aufidius then had made new head? LARTIUS. He had, my lord, and that it was which caused Our swifter composition. CORIOLANUS. So then the Volsces stand but as at first, Ready, when time shall prompt
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them, to make road Upons again. COMINIUS. They are worn, lord consul, so That we shall hardly in our ages see Their banners wave again. CORIOLANUS. Saw you Aufidius? LARTIUS. On safeguard he came to me, and did curse Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely Yielded the town. He is retired to Antium. CORIOLANUS. Spoke he of me?
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LARTIUS. He did, my lord. CORIOLANUS. How? What? LARTIUS. How often he had met you sword to sword; That of all things upon the earth he hated Your person most; that he would pawn his fortunes To hopeless restitution, so he might Be called your vanquisher. CORIOLANUS. At Antium lives he? LARTIUS. At Antium. CORIOLANUS. I wish I had a
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cause to seek him there, To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. Enter Sicinius and Brutus. Behold, these are the tribunes of the people, The tongues o th common mouth. I do despise them, For they do prank them in authority Against all noble sufferance. SICINIUS. Pass no further. CORIOLANUS. Ha? What is that? BRUTUS. It will be dangerous to
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go on. No further. CORIOLANUS. What makes this change? MENENIUS. The matter? COMINIUS. Hath he not passed the noble and the common? BRUTUS. Cominius, no. CORIOLANUS. Have I had childrens voices? FIRST SENATOR. Tribunes, give way. He shall to the marketplace. BRUTUS. The people are incensed against him. SICINIUS. Stop, Or all will fall in broil. CORIOLANUS. Are these your
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herd? Must these have voices, that can yield them now And straight disclaim their tongues? What are your offices? You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth? Have you not set them on? MENENIUS. Be calm, be calm. CORIOLANUS. It is a purposed thing, and grows by plot, To curb the will of the nobility. Suffert, and live
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with such as cannot rule Nor ever will be ruled. BRUTUS. Callt not a plot. The people cry you mocked them; and, of late, When corn was given them gratis, you repined, Scandaled the suppliants for the people, called them Timepleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. CORIOLANUS. Why, this was known before. BRUTUS. Not to them all. CORIOLANUS. Have you informed
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them sithence? BRUTUS. How? I inform them? COMINIUS. You are like to do such business. BRUTUS. Not unlike, each way, to better yours. CORIOLANUS. Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds, Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me Your fellow tribune. SICINIUS. You show too much of that For which the people stir. If you
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will pass To where you are bound, you must inquire your way, Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit, Or never be so noble as a consul, Nor yoke with him for tribune. MENENIUS. Lets be calm. COMINIUS. The people are abused, set on. This paltring Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus Deserved this so dishonoured rub, laid
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falsely I th plain way of his merit. CORIOLANUS. Tell me of corn? This was my speech, and I will speakt again. MENENIUS. Not now, not now. FIRST SENATOR. Not in this heat, sir, now. CORIOLANUS. Now, as I live, I will. My nobler friends, I crave their pardons. For The mutable, rank-scented many, let them Regard me, as I
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do not flatter, and Therein behold themselves. I say again, In soothing them we nourish gainst our senate The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition, Which we ourselves have ploughed for, sowed, and scattered By mingling them with us, the honoured number, Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that Which they have given to beggars. MENENIUS. Well, no more.
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FIRST SENATOR. No more words, we beseech you. CORIOLANUS. How? No more? As for my country I have shed my blood, Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs Coin words till their decay against those measles Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought The very way to catch them. BRUTUS. You speak o th people As if you
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were a god to punish, not A man of their infirmity. SICINIUS. Twere well We let the people knowt. MENENIUS. What, what? His choler? CORIOLANUS. Choler? Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, By Jove, twould be my mind. SICINIUS. It is a mind That shall remain a poison where it is, Not poison any further. CORIOLANUS. Shall remain?
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Hear you this Triton of the minnows? Mark you His absolute shall? COMINIUS. Twas from the canon. CORIOLANUS. Shall? O good but most unwise patricians, why, You grave but reckless senators, have you thus Given Hydra leave to choose an officer, That with his peremptory shall, being but The horn and noise o th monsters, wants not spirit To say
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hell turn your current in a ditch And make your channel his? If he have power, Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned, Be not as common fools; if you are not, Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians, If they be senators; and they are no less When, both your
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voices blended, the greatst taste Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate, And such a one as he, who puts his shall, His popular shall, against a graver bench Than ever frowned in Greece. By Jove himself, It makes the consuls base! And my soul aches To know, when two authorities are up, Neither supreme, how soon confusion May enter
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twixt the gap of both and take The one by th other. COMINIUS. Well, on to th marketplace. CORIOLANUS. Whoever gave that counsel to give forth The corn o th storehouse gratis, as twas used Sometime in Greece MENENIUS. Well, well, no more of that. CORIOLANUS. Though there the people had more absolute power, I say they nourished disobedience, fed
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The ruin of the state. BRUTUS. Why shall the people give One that speaks thus their voice? CORIOLANUS. Ill give my reasons, More worthier than their voices. They know the corn Was not our recompense, resting well assured They neer did service fort. Being pressed to th war, Even when the navel of the state was touched, They would not
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thread the gates. This kind of service Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i th war, Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they showed Most valour, spoke not for them. Th accusation Which they have often made against the Senate, All cause unborn, could never be the native Of our so frank donation. Well, what then? How shall this bosom multitude
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digest The senates courtesy? Let deeds express Whats like to be their words: We did request it; We are the greater poll, and in true fear They gave us our demands. Thus we debase The nature of our seats and make the rabble Call our cares fears, which will in time Break ope the locks o th Senate and bring
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in The crows to peck the eagles. MENENIUS. Come, enough. BRUTUS. Enough, with over-measure. CORIOLANUS. No, take more! What may be sworn by, both divine and human, Seal what I end withal! This double worship Where one part does disdain with cause, the other Insult without all reason, where gentry, title, wisdom Cannot conclude but by the yea and no
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Of general ignoranceit must omit Real necessities and give way the while To unstable slightness. Purpose so barred, it follows Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech you You that will be less fearful than discreet, That love the fundamental part of state More than you doubt the change ont, that prefer A noble life before a long, and wish
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To jump a body with a dangerous physic Thats sure of death without itat once pluck out The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonour Mangles true judgment and bereaves the state Of that integrity which should becomet, Not having the power to do the good it would For th ill which doth
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controlt. BRUTUS. Has said enough. SICINIUS. Has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer As traitors do. CORIOLANUS. Thou wretch, despite oerwhelm thee! What should the people do with these bald tribunes, On whom depending, their obedience fails To th greater bench. In a rebellion, When whats not meet but what must be was law, Then were they chosen. In
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a better hour, Let what is meet be said it must be meet, And throw their power i th dust. BRUTUS. Manifest treason. SICINIUS. This a consul? No. BRUTUS. The aediles, ho! Let him be apprehended. Enter an Aedile. SICINIUS. Go call the people; [_Exit Aedile._] in whose name myself Attach thee as a traitorous innovator, A foe to th
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public weal. Obey, I charge thee, And follow to thine answer. CORIOLANUS. Hence, old goat. ALL PATRICIANS. Well surety him. COMINIUS. [_to Sicinius_.] Aged sir, hands off. CORIOLANUS. [_to Sicinius_.] Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones Out of thy garments. SICINIUS. Help, ye citizens! Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Aediles. MENENIUS. On both sides more
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respect! SICINIUS. Heres he that would take from you all your power. BRUTUS. Seize him, aediles. ALL PLEBEIANS. Down with him, down with him! SECOND SENATOR. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [_They all bustle about Coriolanus._] Tribunes, patricians, citizens, what, ho! Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens! ALL. Peace, peace, peace! Stay, hold, peace! MENENIUS. What is about to be? I am out of
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breath. Confusions near. I cannot speak. You tribunes To th people!Coriolanus, patience! Speak, good Sicinius. SICINIUS. Hear me, people! Peace! ALL PLEBEIANS. Lets hear our tribune. Peace! Speak, speak, speak. SICINIUS. You are at point to lose your liberties. Martius would have all from you, Martius, Whom late you have named for consul. MENENIUS. Fie, fie, fie! This is the
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way to kindle, not to quench. FIRST SENATOR. To unbuild the city and to lay all flat. SICINIUS. What is the city but the people? ALL PLEBEIANS. True, The people are the city. BRUTUS. By the consent of all, we were established The peoples magistrates. ALL PLEBEIANS. You so remain. MENENIUS. And so are like to do. COMINIUS. That is
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the way to lay the city flat, To bring the roof to the foundation And bury all which yet distinctly ranges In heaps and piles of ruin. SICINIUS. This deserves death. BRUTUS. Or let us stand to our authority Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce, Upon the part o th people, in whose power We were elected
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theirs, Martius is worthy Of present death. SICINIUS. Therefore lay hold of him, Bear him to th rock Tarpeian, and from thence Into destruction cast him. BRUTUS. Aediles, seize him! ALL PLEBEIANS. Yield, Martius, yield! MENENIUS. Hear me one word. Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. AEDILES. Peace, peace! MENENIUS. Be that you seem, truly your countrys friend,
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And temprately proceed to what you would Thus violently redress. BRUTUS. Sir, those cold ways, That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous Where the disease is violent.Lay hands upon him, And bear him to the rock. [_Coriolanus draws his sword._] CORIOLANUS. No; Ill die here. Theres some among you have beheld me fighting. Come, try upon yourselves what you
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have seen me. MENENIUS. Down with that sword!Tribunes, withdraw awhile. BRUTUS. Lay hands upon him! MENENIUS. Help Martius, help! You that be noble, help him, young and old! ALL PLEBEIANS. Down with him, down with him! [_In this mutiny the Tribunes, the Aediles and the People are beat in._] MENENIUS. Go, get you to your house. Begone, away. All will
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be naught else. SECOND SENATOR. Get you gone. CORIOLANUS. Stand fast! We have as many friends as enemies. MENENIUS. Shall it be put to that? FIRST SENATOR. The gods forbid! I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house; Leave us to cure this cause. MENENIUS. For tis a sore upon us You cannot tent yourself. Begone, beseech you. COMINIUS. Come,
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sir, along with us. CORIOLANUS. I would they were barbarians, as they are, Though in Rome littered, not Romans, as they are not, Though calved i th porch o th Capitol. MENENIUS. Begone! Put not your worthy rage into your tongue. One time will owe another. CORIOLANUS. On fair ground I could beat forty of them. MENENIUS. I could myself
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Take up a brace o th best of them, yea, the two tribunes. COMINIUS. But now tis odds beyond arithmetic, And manhood is called foolery when it stands Against a falling fabric. Will you hence, Before the tag return, whose rage doth rend Like interrupted waters, and oerbear What they are used to bear? MENENIUS. Pray you, begone. Ill try
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whether my old wit be in request With those that have but little. This must be patched With cloth of any colour. COMINIUS. Nay, come away. [_Exeunt Coriolanus and Cominius._] PATRICIAN. This man has marred his fortune. MENENIUS. His nature is too noble for the world. He would not flatter Neptune for his trident Or Jove fors power to thunder.
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His hearts his mouth; What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent, And, being angry, does forget that ever He heard the name of death. [_A noise within._] Heres goodly work. PATRICIAN. I would they were abed! MENENIUS. I would they were in Tiber! What the vengeance, Could he not speak em fair? Enter Brutus and Sicinius with the
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rabble again. SICINIUS. Where is this viper That would depopulate the city and Be every man himself? MENENIUS. You worthy tribunes SICINIUS. He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock With rigorous hands. He hath resisted law, And therefore law shall scorn him further trial Than the severity of the public power Which he so sets at naught. FIRST CITIZEN.
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He shall well know The noble tribunes are the peoples mouths, And we their hands. ALL PLEBEIANS. He shall, sure ont. MENENIUS. Sir, sir SICINIUS. Peace! MENENIUS. Do not cry havoc where you should but hunt With modest warrant. SICINIUS. Sir, how comest that you Have holp to make this rescue? MENENIUS. Hear me speak. As I do know the
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Consuls worthiness, So can I name his faults. SICINIUS. Consul? What consul? MENENIUS. The consul Coriolanus. BRUTUS. He consul? ALL PLEBEIANS. No, no, no, no, no! MENENIUS. If, by the Tribunes leave, and yours, good people, I may be heard, I would crave a word or two, The which shall turn you to no further harm Than so much loss
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of time. SICINIUS. Speak briefly then, For we are peremptory to dispatch This viperous traitor. To eject him hence Were but one danger, and to keep him here Our certain death. Therefore it is decreed He dies tonight. MENENIUS. Now the good gods forbid That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude Towards her deserved children is enrolled In Joves own book,
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like an unnatural dam Should now eat up her own. SICINIUS. Hes a disease that must be cut away. MENENIUS. O, hes a limb that has but a disease Mortal to cut it off; to cure it easy. What has he done to Rome thats worthy death? Killing our enemies, the blood he hath lost Which I dare vouch is
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more than that he hath By many an ouncehe dropt it for his country; And what is left, to lose it by his country Were to us all, that dot and suffer it A brand to th end o th world. SICINIUS. This is clean cam. BRUTUS. Merely awry. When he did love his country, It honoured him. MENENIUS. The
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service of the foot, Being once gangrened, is not then respected For what before it was. BRUTUS. Well hear no more. Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence, Lest his infection, being of catching nature, Spread further. MENENIUS. One word more, one word! This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unscanned swiftness, will too late,
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Tie leaden pounds tos heels. Proceed by process, Lest partiesas he is belovedbreak out And sack great Rome with Romans. BRUTUS. If it were so SICINIUS. What do ye talk? Have we not had a taste of his obedience? Our aediles smote! Ourselves resisted? Come. MENENIUS. Consider this: he has been bred i th wars Since he could draw a
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sword, and is ill schooled In bolted language; meal and bran together He throws without distinction. Give me leave, Ill go to him and undertake to bring him Where he shall answer by a lawful form, In peace, to his utmost peril. FIRST SENATOR. Noble tribunes, It is the humane way: the other course Will prove too bloody, and the
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end of it Unknown to the beginning. SICINIUS. Noble Menenius, Be you then as the peoples officer. Masters, lay down your weapons. BRUTUS. Go not home. SICINIUS. Meet on the marketplace. Well attend you there, Where if you bring not Martius, well proceed In our first way. MENENIUS. Ill bring him to you. [_To Senators_.] Let me desire your company.
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He must come, Or what is worst will follow. FIRST SENATOR. Pray you, lets to him. [_Exeunt._] SCENE II. Rome. A room in Coriolanuss house Enter Coriolanus with Nobles. CORIOLANUS. Let them pull all about mine ears, present me Death on the wheel or at wild horses heels, Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock, That the precipitation might
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down stretch Below the beam of sight, yet will I still Be thus to them. FIRST PATRICIAN. You do the nobler. CORIOLANUS. I muse my mother Does not approve me further, who was wont To call them woollen vassals, things created To buy and sell with groats, to show bare heads In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder When
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one but of my ordinance stood up To speak of peace or war. Enter Volumnia. I talk of you. Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me False to my nature? Rather say I play The man I am. VOLUMNIA. O, sir, sir, sir, I would have had you put your power well on Before you had worn
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it out. CORIOLANUS. Let go. VOLUMNIA. You might have been enough the man you are With striving less to be so. Lesser had been The thwartings of your dispositions if You had not showed them how ye were disposed Ere they lacked power to cross you. CORIOLANUS. Let them hang! VOLUMNIA. Ay, and burn too. Enter Menenius with the Senators.
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MENENIUS. Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough. You must return and mend it. FIRST SENATOR. Theres no remedy, Unless, by not so doing, our good city Cleave in the midst and perish. VOLUMNIA. Pray be counselled. I have a heart as little apt as yours, But yet a brain that leads my use of anger To
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better vantage. MENENIUS. Well said, noble woman. Before he should thus stoop to th herdbut that The violent fit o th time craves it as physic For the whole stateI would put mine armour on, Which I can scarcely bear. CORIOLANUS. What must I do? MENENIUS. Return to th Tribunes. CORIOLANUS. Well, what then? What then? MENENIUS. Repent what you
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have spoke. CORIOLANUS. For them? I cannot do it to the gods. Must I then dot to them? VOLUMNIA. You are too absolute, Though therein you can never be too noble But when extremities speak. I have heard you say Honour and policy, like unsevered friends, I th war do grow together. Grant that, and tell me In peace what
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each of them by th other lose That they combine not there. CORIOLANUS. Tush, tush! MENENIUS. A good demand. VOLUMNIA. If it be honour in your wars to seem The same you are not, which for your best ends You adopt your policy, how is it less or worse That it shall hold companionship in peace With honour as in
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war, since that to both It stands in like request? CORIOLANUS. Why force you this? VOLUMNIA. Because that now it lies you on to speak To th people, not by your own instruction, Nor by th matter which your heart prompts you, But with such words that are but rooted in Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables Of no
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allowance to your bosoms truth. Now, this no more dishonours you at all Than to take in a town with gentle words, Which else would put you to your fortune and The hazard of much blood. I would dissemble with my nature where My fortunes and my friends at stake required I should do so in honour. I am in
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this Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles; And you will rather show our general louts How you can frown than spend a fawn upon em For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard Of what that want might ruin. MENENIUS. Noble lady! Come, go with us; speak fair. You may salve so, Not what is dangerous present, but
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the loss Of what is past. VOLUMNIA. I prithee now, my son, Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand, And thus far having stretched ithere be with them Thy knee bussing the stonesfor in such busines Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th ignorant More learned than the earswaving thy head, Which often thus correcting thy stout
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heart, Now humble as the ripest mulberry That will not hold the handling. Or 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
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As thou hast power and person. MENENIUS. This but done Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours; For they have pardons, being asked, as free As words to little purpose. VOLUMNIA. Prithee now, Go, and be ruled; although I know thou hadst rather Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf Than flatter him in a bower. Enter Cominius.
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Here is Cominius. COMINIUS. I have been i th marketplace; and, sir, tis fit You make strong party or defend yourself By calmness or by absence. Alls in anger. MENENIUS. Only fair speech. COMINIUS. I think twill serve, if he Can thereto frame his spirit. VOLUMNIA. He must, and will. Prithee, now, say you will, and go about it. CORIOLANUS.
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Must I go show them my unbarbed sconce? Must I With my base tongue give to my noble heart A lie that it must bear? Well, I will dot. Yet, were there but this single plot to lose, This mould of Martius, they to dust should grind it And throwt against the wind. To th marketplace! You have put me
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