To enter our Rome gates: I' the people's name, It shall be so; let him away: he's banish'd, And so it shall be. Com. Hear me, my masters, and my common friends; Sic. He's sentenc'd: no more hearing. Com. Let me speak: I have been consul, and can show from Rome, Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love My country's good, with a respect more tender, More holy, and profound, than mine own life, My dear wife's estimate, her womb's increase, And treasure of my loins: than if I would Speak that Sic. We know your drift: Speak what? Bru. There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd, As enemy to the people, and his country: It shall be so. Cit. It shall be so, it shall be so. Cor. You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate As reek o' the rotten fens, whose loves I prize As the dead carcasses of unburied men That do corrupt my air, I banish you; Fan you into despair! 49Have the power still That won you without blows! Despising, There is a world elsewhere. back: [Exeunt Coriolanus, Comirius, Menenius, Senators, and Patricians. Ed. The people's enemy is gone, is gone! Cit. Our enemy's banish'd! he is gone! Hoo! hoo! [The people shout, and throw up their caps. Sic. Go, see him out at gates, and follow him, As he hath follow'd you, with all despite; Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard Attend us through the city. Cit. Come, come, let us see him out at gates; ACT IV. SCENE I. The Same. Before a Gate of the City. Enter CORIOLANUS, VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, and several young Patricians. Cor. Come, leave your tears; a brief farewell:the beast With many heads butts me away.-Nay, mother, craves A noble cunning: you were us'd to load me The heart that conn'd them. Vir. O heavens! O heavens! Cor. Nay, I pr'ythee, woman, Vol. Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome, And occupations perish! Cor. What, what, what! I shall be lov'd, when I am lack'd. Nay, mother, If you had been the wife of Hercules, Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd Your husband so much sweat.-Cominius, Droop not; adieu:-Farewell, my wife! my mother! And venomous to thine eyes.-My sometime general As 'tis to laugh at them.-My mother, you wot well, Like to a lonely dragon, that his fen Makes fear'd, and talk'd of more than seen,) your son Will, or exceed the common, or be caught With cautelous baits and practice. Vol. My first son, Whither wilt thou go? Take good Cominius That starts i' the way before thee. Cor. O the gods! Com. I'll follow thee a month, devise with thee Where thou shalt rest, that thou may'st hear of us, And we of thee: so, if the time thrust forth A cause for thy repeal, we shall not send - Cor. That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.- Men. That's worthily As any ear can hear.-Come, let's not weep.- From these old arms and legs, by the good gods, Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an Edile. Sic. Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further. The nobility are vex'd, who, we see, have sided In his behalf. Bru. Now we have shown our power, Let us seem humbler after it is done, Than when it was a doing. Sic. Bid them home: Say, their great enemy is gone, and they Bru. Dismiss them home. [Exit Edile. |