The Philosophy of the Plays of Shakspere Unfolded Part 58

_Bru. Go not home_,

_Sic_. MEET on the MARKET-PLACE,--

[--that is where the 'idols of the market' are--]

_We'll attend you there: Where_, if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed In our _first way_.

_Men_. I'll bring him to you.

Let me desire _your_ company [_To the Senators_] He _must_ come, Or what is worse will follow.

_Sen_. Pray you, let's to him.

SCENE--THE FORUM.

_Enter Sicinius and Brutus_.

_Bru_. In this _point_ charge him _home_, that he affects TYRANNICAL POWER: if he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to _the people_; And that the spoil, got on the Antiates, Was _ne'er distributed_.--

_Enter an aedile_.

What, will he come?

_aed_. He's coming.

_Bru_. How accompanied?

_aed_. _With old Menenius_, and those senators That always favour'd him.

_Sic_. Have you a _catalogue_ Of all the voices that we have procured, _Set down by_ THE POLL?

_aed_. _I have; 'tis ready._

_Sic_. Have you collected them BY TRIBES?

_aed_. I _have_.

_Sic_. a.s.semble presently the people hither: And when they hear _me_ say, _it shall be so_ _I_ the RIGHT and STRENGTH o' the COMMONS, be it either For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them, If I say _fine_, cry _fine_; if _death_, cry _death_; Insisting on the OLD _prerogative, And power i' THE TRUTH, o' THE CAUSE.

[There is a great difference in the delivery of the mathematics, which are the most abstracted of knowledges, and policy, which is the most immersed.--_Advancement_ of LEARNING.]

_aed_. I shall inform them.

_Bru_. And when such time they have begun to cry, Let them not cease, but with a din confused Enforce the present execution Of what we chance to sentence.

_aed_. Very well.

_Sic_. Make them _be strong_, and _ready for this hint_.

When we shall _hap_ to give't them.

_Bru_. Go about it.

[_Exit aedile_.]

Put him to choler straight. He hath been used Ever to conquer, and to have his worth Of contradiction. Being once chafed, he cannot Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks What's in his heart; and _that_ is there, which looks _With me to break his neck_. [Prophecy--inductive.]

Well, here he comes.

_Enter_ CORIOLa.n.u.s, _and his party_.

_Men_. Calmly, I do beseech you.

_Cor_. Ay, as an ostler, that for the poorest piece Will bear the knave by the volume. The honour'd G.o.ds Keep _Rome in safety_, and the CHAIRS of JUSTICE _Supplied_ with WORTHY MEN! _plant_ LOVE _among us_.

Throng OUR LARGE TEMPLES with the _shows_ of PEACE, And _not_ our STREETS with WAR.

_First Sen_. _Amen, Amen! [Hear, Hear_!]

_Men_. A n.o.bLE _wish_.

_Re-enter aedile with Citizens_.

_Sic_. Draw near, ye people.

_Cor_. First hear _me_ speak.

_aedile_. List to your _tribunes_. Audience: _Peace_, I say.

_Both Tri_. Well, say,--Peace, ho.

_Cor_. Shall I be charged no further than this present?

Must all determine here?

_Sic_. I do demand, If you submit you to the _people's_ voices, Allow their _officers_, and are content To suffer _lawful censure for such faults As shall be proved upon you_?

_Cor_. I am content.

_Men_. Lo, citizens, he says he is content--

_Cor_. What is the matter, That being pa.s.s'd for consul, with full voice, I am so dishonour'd, that the very hour You take it off again?

_Sic_. _Answer to us_.

_Cor_. Say then,'tis true. _I ought so_.

Sic. WE CHARGE YOU, that you have contrived to take From Rome, all seasoned office, and to wind Yourself into a_ POWER TYRANNICAL; _For which_, you are A TRAITOR to the PEOPLE.

_Cor_. How! _Traitor_?

_Men_. Nay, temperately: Your promise.

_Cor_. The fires in the lowest h.e.l.l fold in the people!

Call me _their traitor_!