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MENENIUS。 Consider this： he has been bred i' th' wars Since 'a could
draw a sword； and is ill school'd In bolted language； meal and bran
together He throws without distinction。 Give me leave； I'll 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 end of it Unknown to
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the beginning。 SICINIUS。 Noble Menenius； Be you then as the people's
officer。 Masters； lay down your weapons。 BRUTUS。 Go not home。
SICINIUS。 Meet on the market…place。 We'll attend you there； Where； if
you bring not Marcius； we'll proceed In our first way。 MENENIUS。 I'll
bring him to you。 ＇To the SENATORS＇ Let me desire your company； he
must come； Or what is worst will follow。 FIRST SENATOR。 Pray you let's
to him。 Exeunt
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SCENE II。 Rome。 The house of CORIOLANUS
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 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 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 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 show'd them
how ye were dispos'd； Ere they lack'd power to cross you。 CORIOLANUS。
Let them hang。 VOLUMNIA。 Ay； and burn too。
Enter MENENIUS with the SENATORS
MENENIUS。 Come； come； you have been too rough； something too
rough； You must return and mend it。 FIRST SENATOR。 There's no
remedy； Unless； by not so doing； our good city Cleave in the midst and
perish。 VOLUMNIA。 Pray be counsell'd； I have a heart as little apt as
yours； But yet a brain that leads my use of anger To better vantage。
MENENIUS。 Well said； noble woman！ Before he should thus stoop to th'
herd； but that The violent fit o' th' time craves it as physic For the whole
state； I 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 have spoke。 CORIOLANUS。 For them！ I cannot do it to the gods；
Must I then do't 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 unsever'd friends； I' th' war do grow
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together； grant that； and tell me In peace what 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 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
roted in Your tongue； though but bastards and syllables Of no allowance to
your bosom's 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 requir'd I should do so in honour。 I
am in 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 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 stretch'd it… here be with them… Thy knee
bussing the stones… for in such busines Action is eloquence； and the eyes
of th' ignorant More learned than the ears… waving thy head； Which often
thus correcting thy stout 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 As thou hast power and
person。 MENENIUS。 This but done Even as she speaks； why； their hearts
were yours； For they have pardons； being ask'd； as free As words to little
purpose。 VOLUMNIA。 Prithee now； Go； and be rul'd； although I know
thou hadst rather Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf Than flatter him in a
bower。 Enter COMINIUS
Here is Cominius。 COMINIUS。 I have been i' th' market…place； and；
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sir； 'tis fit You make strong party； or defend yourself By calmness or by
absence； all's 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。 Must
I go show them my unbarb'd sconce？ Must I With my base tongue give to
my noble heart A lie that it must bear？ Well； I will do't； Yet； were there but
this single plot to lose； This mould of Marcius； they to dust should grind it；
And throw't against the wind。 To th' market…place！ You have put me now
to such a part which never I shall discharge to th' life。 COMINIUS。 Come；
come； we'll prompt you。 VOLUMNIA。 I prithee now； sweet son； as thou
hast said My praises made thee first a soldier； so； To have my praise for
this； perform a part Thou hast not done before。 CORIOLANUS。 Well； I
must do't。 Away； my disposition； and possess me Some harlot's spirit！ My
throat of war be turn'd； Which quier'd with my drum； into a pipe Small as
an eunuch or the virgin voice That babies lulls asleep！ The smiles of
knaves Tent in my cheeks； and schoolboys' tears take up The glasses of my
sight！ A beggar's tongue Make motion through my lips； and my arm'd
knees； Who bow'd but in my stirrup； bend like his That hath receiv'd an
alms！ I will not do't； Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth； And by my
body's action teach my mind A most inherent baseness。 VOLUMNIA。 At
thy choice； then。 To beg of thee； it is my more dishonour Than thou of
them。 Come all to ruin。 Let Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear Thy
dangerous stoutness； for I mock at death With as big heart as thou。 Do as
thou list。 Thy valiantness was mine； thou suck'dst it from me； But owe thy
pride thyself。 CORIOLANUS。 Pray be content。 Mother； I am 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。 Look；
I am going。 Commend me to my wife。 I'll return consul； Or never trust to
what my tongue can do I' th' way of flattery further。 VOLUMNIA。 Do
your will。 Exit COMINIUS。 Away！ The tribunes do attend you。 Arm
yourse