Your sudden approbation.

Bru.

Say, you ne'er had done't. (Harp on that still,) but by our putting on:3

And presently, when you have drawn your number, Repair to the Capitol.

Cit.

We will so: almost all [Several speak.

Repent in their election.

Bru.

[Exeunt Citizens.

Let them go on;

This 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.*

To the Capitol:

Sic. Come; we'll be there before the stream o'the people; And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, Which we have goaded onward.

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I. The same. A Street.

Cornels. Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUSs, Senators, and Patricians.

Cor. Tullus Aufidius then had made new head? Lart. He had, my lord; and that it was, which caus'd

Our swifter composition.

Cor. So then the Volces stand but as at first; Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road

The vantage of his anger.] Mark, catch, and improve the opportunity, which his hasty anger will afford us.

Upon us again.
Com.

That we shall hardly in our ages see
Their banners wave again.

Cor.

They are worn, lord consul, so,

Saw you Aufidius?

5

Lart. On safe-guard he came to me; and did curse Against the Volces, for they had so vilely Yielded the town: he is retir'd to Antium. Cor. Spoke he of me?

Lart.

Cor.

He did, my lord.

How? what?

Lart. 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 call'd your vanquisher.

To

Cor.

Lart. At Antium.

At Antium lives he?

Cor. I wish, I had a cause to seek him there,
oppose his hatred fully.-Welcome home.

[TO LARTIUS.

Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.

Behold! these are the tribunes of the people,
The tongues o'the common mouth. I do despise

them;

For they do prank them in authority,

Against all noble sufferance.

Sic.

Cor. Ha! what is that?

Bru.

Go on: no further.

Pass no further.

It will be dangerous to

On safe-guard he came to me;] i. e. with a convoy, a guard appointed to protect him.

selves.

prank them in authority,] Plume, deck, dignify them

Cor.

Men.

What makes this change?

The matter?

Com. Hath he not pass'd the nobles, and the

commons?

Bru. Cominius, no.

Cor.

Have I had children's voices?

1 Sen. Tribunes, give way; he shall to the mar

ket-place.

Bru. The people are incens'd against him.

Sic.

Or all will fall in broil.

Cor.

Stop,

Are these your 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?

Men.

Be calm, be calm.

Cor. It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot, To curb the will of the nobility:

Suffer it, and live with such as cannot rule,
Nor ever will be rul'd.

Bru.

Call't not a plot :

The people cry, you mock'd them; and, of late,
When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd;
Scandal'd the suppliants for the people; call'd them
Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.
Cor. Why, this was known before.
Bru.

Not to them all.

Cor. Have you inform'd them since?
Bru.

How! I inform them!

Cor. You are like to do such business.

Bru.

Each way, to better yours.

Not unlike,

Cor. Why then should I be consul? By yon clouds, Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me

You show too much of that,

Your fellow tribune.

Sic.

For which the people stir: If you 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.

Men.

Let's be calm.

Com. The people are abus'd:-Set on.-This

palt'ring

Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus

Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely

I' the plain way of his merit.

Cor.

Tell me of corn!

This was my speech, and I will speak't again;—

Men. Not now, not now.

1 Sen.

Not in this heat, sir, now.

Cor. 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 do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves:' I

say again,

In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate The cockle of rebellion,2 insolence, sedition, Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd and scatter'd,

By mingling them with us, the honour'd number;

8

This palt'ring

Becomes not Rome;] That is, this trick of dissimulation; this shuffling.

9rub, laid falsely, &c.] Falsely for treacherously.

Regard me as I do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves:] Let them look in the mirror which I hold up to them, a mirror which does not flatter, and see them selves.

JOHNSON.

>

2 The cockle of rebellion,] Cockle is a weed which grows up

with the corn.

Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that.
Which they have given to beggars.

Men.

Well, no more.

1 Sen. No more words, we beseech you.
Cor.

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 meazels,
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought
The very way to catch them.

Bru.
As if you were a god to punish, not

A man of their infirmity.

Sic.

We let the people know't.

Men.

Cor. Choler!

You speak o'the people,

"Twere well,

What, what? his choler?

Were I as patient as the midnight sleep,
By Jove, 'twould be my mind.

It is a mind,

Sic.
That shall remain a poison where it is,

Not poison any further.

Shall remain!

mark

you

this Triton of the minnows?

Cor.

Hear you

His absolute shall?

Com.

Cor.

"Twas from the canon."

O good, but most unwise patricians, why,
You grave, but reckless senators, have you
Given Hydra here to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory shall, being but

3

a leper.

Shall!

thus

meazels,] Mesell is used in Pierce Plowman's Vision, for

minnows?] A minnow is one of the smallest river fish, called in some counties a pink.

5 'Twas from the canon,] Was contrary to the established rule; it was a form of speech to which he has no right; but Mr. Mason thinks these words imply the very reverse.