Act IIL]
CORIOLANUS.
285
Cor. Shall!
O good, but most unwise patricians, why,
You grave, but reckless senators, have you thusGiven Hydra here to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory shall, being butThe horn and noise o’ the monsters, wants not spiritTo say, he’ll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his ? If he have power,Then vail- your ignorance ; if none, awakeYour dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools ; if you are not,
Let them have cushionsby you. You are plebeians,If they be senators : and they are no less,
When both your voices blended, the greatest tasteMostpalatestheirs. Theychoosetlieirmagistrate ;And such a one as he, who puts his shall,
His popular shall, against a graver benchThan ever frown’d in Greece ! By Jove himself,It makes the consuls base: and my soul akes,To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supreme, how soon confusionMay enter ’twixt the gap of both, and takeThe one by the other.
Com. Well—on to the market-place.
Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forthThe corn o’the store-house gratis, as ’twas us’d
Men. Well, well, no more of that.
Cor. (Though there the people had more ab-solute power,)
I say, they nourish’d disobedience, fedThe ruin of the state.
Bru. Why, shall the people giveOne, 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’dThey ne’er did service for’t: Being press’d to thewar,
Even when the navel of the state was touch’d,They would not thread the gates: this kind ofservice
Did not deserve corn gratis: being i’the war,Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show’dMost valour, spoke not for them: The accusation,Which they have often made against the senate,All cause unborn, could never be the nativeOf our so frank donation. Well, what then ?How shall this bosom multiplied digestThe senate’s courtesy ? Let deeds expressWhat’s like to be their words:— Wedidrequest it;We are the greater poll, and in true fearThey gave us our demands : —Thus we debaseThe nature of our seats, and make the rabbleCall our cares, fears: which will in time break opeThe locks o’the senate, and bring in the crowsTo 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 lend withal!—This double worship,—
Where one part does disdain with cause, the otherInsult without all reason ; where gentry, title,wisdom,
Cannot conclude, but by the yea and noOf general ignorance,—it must omitReal necessities, and give way the whileTo unstable slightness: purpose so barr’d, itfollows,
Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseechyou,—
You that will he less fearful than discreet ;
That love the fundamental part of state,
More than you doubt the change of’t; that preferA noble life before a long, and wishTo jump a body with a dangerous physic,
That’s sure of death without it,—at once pluckout
The multitudinous tongue, let them not lickThe sweet which is their poison r your dishonourMangles true judgment, and bereaves the stateOf that integrity which should become it;
Not having the power to do the good it would,For the ill which doth control it.
Bru. He has said enough.
Sic. He has spoken like a traitor, and shallanswerAs traitors do.
Cor. Thou wretch! despite o’erwhelm thee!—What should the people do with these baldtribunes ?
On whom depending, their obedience failsTo the greater bench : In a rebellion,
When what’snotmeetjbutwliatmustbe, waslaw,Then were they chosen ; in a better hour,
Let what is meet, be said it must be meet,
And throw their power i’the dust.
Bru. Manifest treason.
Sic. This a consul ? no.
Bru. The AEdiles , ho!—Let him be appre-hended.
Sic. Go, call the people ; [\Exit Brutus.^ inwhose name, myselfAttach thee, as a traitorous innovator,
A foe to the public weal: Obey, I charge thee,And follow to thine answer.
Cor. Hence, old goat!
Sen. Pat. We’ll surety him.
Com. Aged sir, hands off.
Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thyhones
Out of thy garments.
Sic. Help, ye citizens.
Re-enter Brutus, with the JEdiles, and a rabbleif Citizens.
Men. On hoth sides more respect.
Sic. Here’s he, that wouldTake from you all your power.
Cit. Down with him, down with him !
^Several speak.
2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons !
[(They all bustle about Coriolanus.