My dear wife's estimate, her womb's increase, 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'th' rotten fens, whose loves I prize As the dead carcasses of unburied men That do corrupt my air, I banish you; Abated captives, to some nation That won you without blows! Despising, There is a world elsewhere. my back: [Exeunt CORIOLANUS, COMINIUS, 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, Attend us through the city. Cit. Come, come, let us see him out at gates; come:The gods preserve our noble tribunes!-Come. [Exeunt. 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, When most struck home, being gentle wounded, craves 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, Six of his labours you'd have done, and sav'd 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 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 O'er the vast world, to seek a single man; And lose advantage, which doth ever cool I' th'absence of the needer. Fare ye well: Cor. That's yet unbruis'd: bring me but out at gate.— Come, my sweet wife, my dearest mother, and Men. Cor. Come. SCENE II.-The same. A street near the gate. 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 Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS. Here comes his mother. Sic. Let's not meet her. Bru. Sic. They say, she's mad. Bru Keep on your way. Why? They have ta'en note of us: Vol. O, you're well met: The hoarded plague o' th' gods Requite your love! Men. Peace, peace; be not so loud. Vol. If that I could for weeping, you should hear,Nay, and you shall hear some.Will you be gone? [TO BRUTUS. Vir. You shall stay too: [To SICIN.] I would, I had the power To say so to my husband. Sic. Are you mankind? Vol. Ay, fool; Is that a shame?-Note but this fool.Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship To banish him that struck more blows for Rome, Than thou hast spoken words? Sic. O blessed heavens! Vol. More noble blows, than ever thou wise words; And for Rome's good.-I'll tell thee what;-Yet go:Nay, but thou shalt stay too:-I would my son Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand. Sic. Vir. What then? What then? He'd make an end of thy posterity. Vol. Bastards, and all. Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! Men. Come, come, peace. Sic. I would he had continu'd to his country, As he began; and not unknit himself The noble knot he made. |