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- Edition: Coriolanus
Coriolanus (Folio 1, 1623)
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The Tragedie of Coriolanus. 19
2294What's in his heart, and that is there which lookes
2295With vs to breake his necke.
2296Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, and Comi-
2297nius, with others.
2298Sicin. Well, heere he comes.
2301Will beare the Knaue by'th Volume:
2302Th' honor'd Goddes
2304Supplied with worthy men, plant loue amongs
2305Through our large Temples with ye shewes of peace
2306And not our streets with Warre.
23071 Sen. Amen, Amen.
2309Enter the Edile with the Plebeians.
2310Sicin. Draw neere ye people.
2312Peace I say.
2316Must all determine heere?
2317Sicin. I do demand,
2318If you submit you to the peoples voices,
2319Allow their Officers, and are content
2321As shall be prou'd vpon you.
2322Corio. I am Content.
2324The warlike Seruice he ha's done, consider: Thinke
2325Vpon the wounds his body beares, which shew
2326Like Graues i'th holy Church-yard.
2328Laughter onely.
2330That when he speakes not like a Citizen,
2331You finde him like a Soldier: do not take
2334Rather then enuy you.
2335Com. Well, well, no more.
2336Corio. What is the matter,
2339You take it off againe.
2342Sicin. We charge you, that you haue contriu'd to take
2344Your selfe into a power tyrannicall,
2345For which you are a Traitor to the people.
2346Corio. How? Traytor?
2349Call me their Traitor, thou iniurious Tribune.
2351In thy hands clutcht: as many Millions in
2352Thy lying tongue, both numbers. I would say
2353Thou lyest vnto thee, with a voice as free,
2354As I do pray the Gods.
2355Sicin. Marke you this people?
2356All. To'th' Rocke, to'th' Rocke with him.
2357Sicin. Peace:
2358We neede not put new matter to his charge:
2366Corio. What do you prate of Seruice.
2367Brut. I talke of that, that know it.
2368Corio. You?
2370Com. Know, I pray you.
2371Corio. Ile know no further:
2372Let them pronounce the steepe Tarpeian death,
2373Vagabond exile, Fleaing, pent to linger
2374But with a graine a day, I would not buy
2375Their mercie, at the price of one faire word,
2376Nor checke my Courage for what they can giue,
2377To haue't with saying, Good morrow.
2378Sicin. For that he ha's
2379(As much as in him lies) from time to time
2381To plucke away their power: as now at last,
2384That doth distribute it. In the name a'th' people,
2385And in the power of vs the Tribunes, wee
2387In perill of precipitation
2388From off the Rocke Tarpeian, neuer more
2389To enter our Rome gates. I'th' Peoples name,
2397Her Enemies markes vpon me. I do loue
2399More holy, and profound, then mine owne life,
2401And treasure of my Loynes: then if I would
2402Speake that.
2403Sicin. We know your drift. Speake what?
2405As Enemy to the people, and his Countrey.
2409As reeke a'th' rotten Fennes: whose Loues I prize,
2410As the dead Carkasses of vnburied men,
2411That do corrupt my Ayre: I banish you,
2412And heere remaine with your vncertaintie.
2413Let euery feeble Rumor shake your hearts:
2414Your Enemies, with nodding of their Plumes
2416To banish your Defenders, till at length
2417Your ignorance (which findes not till it feeles,
2419Still your owne Foes) deliuer you
2422For you the City. Thus I turne my backe;
2423There is a world elsewhere.
2424 Exeunt Coriolanus, Cominius, with Cumalijs.
2425They all shout, and throw vp their Caps.
Edile