They choose their magistrate,

And such a one as he, who puts his ›shall,‹

His popular ›shall,‹ against a graver bench

Than ever frown'd 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 'twixt the gap of both, and take

The one by th' other.

COM.

Well, on to th' market-place.

COR.

Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth

The corn a' th' store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd

Sometime in Greece –

MEN.

Well, well, no more of that.

COR.

Though there the people had more absolute pow'r,

I say they nourish'd disobedience, fed

The ruin of the state.

BRU.

Why shall the people give

One that speaks thus their voice?

COR.

I'll give my reasons,

More worthier than their voices. They know the corn

Was not our recompense, resting well assur'd

They ne'er did service for't; being press'd to th' war,

Even when the navel of the state was touch'd,

They would not thread the gates. This kind of service

Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i' th' war,

Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd

Most valor, 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 multiplied digest

The Senate's courtesy? Let deeds express

What's like to be their words: »We did request it,

We are the greater pole, 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 a' th' Senate, and bring in

The crows to peck the eagles.

MEN.

Come, enough.

BRU.

Enough, with over-measure.

COR.

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

Of general ignorance – it must omit

Real necessities, and give way the while

To unstable slightness. Purpose so barr'd, 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 on't; that prefer

A noble life before a long, and wish

To jump a body with a dangerous physic

That's sure of death without it – at once pluck out

The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick

The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonor

Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the state

Of that integrity which should become't;

Not having the power to do the good it would,

For th' ill which doth control't.

BRU.

H'as said enough.

SIC.

H'as spoken like a traitor, and shall answer

As traitors do.

COR.

Thou wretch, despite o'erwhelm thee!

What should the people do with these bald tribunes?

On whom depending, their obedience fails

To th' greater bench. In a rebellion,

When what's not meet, but what must be, was law,

Then were they chosen; in a better hour,

Let what is meet be said it must be meet,

And throw their power i' th' dust.

BRU.

Manifest treason!

SIC.

This a consul? No!

BRU.

The aediles ho!

Enter an Aedile.

 

Let him be apprehended.

SIC.

Go call the people

 

[exit Aedile],

 

in whose name myself

Attach thee as a traitorous innovator,

A foe to th' public weal. Obey, I charge thee,

And follow to thine answer.

COR.

Hence, old goat!

ALL [PATRICIANS].

We'll surety him.

COM.

Ag'd sir, hands off.

COR.

Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones

Out of thy garments.

SIC.

Help, ye citizens!

 

Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Aediles.

MEN.

On both sides more respect.

SIC.

Here's he that would take from you all your power.

BRU.

Seize him, aediles!

ALL [PLEBEIANS].

Down with him, down with him!

2. SEN.

Weapons, weapons, weapons!

 

They all bustle about Coriolanus.

 

[ALL.]

Tribunes! – Patricians! – Citizens! – What ho! –

Sicinius! – Brutus! – Coriolanus! – Citizens! –

Peace, peace, peace! – Stay, hold, peace!

MEN.

What is about to be? I am out of breath,

Confusion's near, I cannot speak. You, tribunes

To th' people! Coriolanus, patience!

Speak, good Sicinius.

SIC.

Hear me, people, peace!

ALL [PLEBEIANS].

Let's hear our tribune; peace! Speak, speak, speak!

SIC.

You are at point to lose your liberties.

Martius would have all from you; Martius,

Whom late you have nam'd for consul.

MEN.

Fie, fie, fie!

This is the way to kindle, not to quench.

[1.] SEN.

To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat.

SIC.

What is the city but the people?

ALL [PLEBEIANS].

True,

The people are the city.

BRU.

By the consent of all, we were establish'd

The people's magistrates.

ALL [PLEBEIANS].

You so remain.

MEN.

And so are like to do.

COM.

That is 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.

SIC.

This deserves death.

BRU.

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 theirs, Martius is worthy

Of present death.

SIC.

Therefore lay hold of him;

Bear him to th' rock Tarpeian, and from thence

Into destruction cast him.

BRU.

Aediles, seize him!

ALL PLEBEIANS.

Yield, Martius, yield!

MEN.

Hear me one word,

Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.

AEDILES.