Shakespeare's First Folio Part 474

Sicin. Liue, and thriue

Bru. Farewell kinde Neighbours: We wisht Coriola.n.u.s had lou'd you as we did

All. Now the G.o.ds keepe you

Both Tri. Farewell, farewell.

Exeunt. Citizens

Sicin. This is a happier and more comely time, Then when these Fellowes ran about the streets, Crying Confusion

Bru. Caius Martius was A worthy Officer i'th' Warre, but Insolent, O'recome with Pride, Ambitious, past all thinking Selfe-louing

Sicin. And affecting one sole Throne, without a.s.sista[n]ce Mene. I thinke not so

Sicin. We should by this, to all our Lamention, If he had gone forth Consull, found it so

Bru. The G.o.ds haue well preuented it, and Rome Sits safe and still, without him.

Enter an aedile.

Aedile. Worthy Tribunes, There is a Slaue whom we haue put in prison, Reports the Volces with two seuerall Powers Are entred in the Roman Territories, And with the deepest malice of the Warre, Destroy, what lies before' em

Mene. 'Tis Auffidius, Who hearing of our Martius Banishment, Thrusts forth his hornes againe into the world Which were In-sh.e.l.l'd, when Martius stood for Rome, And durst not once peepe out

Sicin. Come, what talke you of Martius

Bru. Go see this Rumorer whipt, it cannot be, The Volces dare breake with vs

Mene. Cannot be?

We haue Record, that very well it can, And three examples of the like, hath beene Within my Age. But reason with the fellow Before you punish him, where he heard this, Least you shall chance to whip your Information, And beate the Messenger, who bids beware Of what is to be dreaded

Sicin. Tell not me: I know this cannot be

Bru. Not possible.

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. The n.o.bles in great earnestnesse are going All to the Senate-house: some newes is comming That turnes their Countenances

Sicin. 'Tis this Slaue: Go whip him fore the peoples eyes: His raising, Nothing but his report

Mes. Yes worthy Sir, The Slaues report is seconded, and more More fearfull is deliuer'd

Sicin. What more fearefull?

Mes. It is spoke freely out of many mouths, How probable I do not know, that Martius Ioyn'd with Auffidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome, And vowes Reuenge as s.p.a.cious, as betweene The yong'st and oldest thing

Sicin. This is most likely

Bru. Rais'd onely, that the weaker sort may wish Good Martius home againe

Sicin. The very tricke on't

Mene. This is vnlikely, He, and Auffidius can no more attone Then violent'st Contrariety.

Enter Messenger.

Mes. You are sent for to the Senate: A fearefull Army, led by Caius Martius, a.s.sociated with Auffidius, Rages Vpon our Territories, and haue already O're-borne their way, consum'd with fire, and tooke What lay before them.

Enter Cominius.

Com. Oh you haue made good worke

Mene. What newes? What newes?

Com. You haue holp to rauish your owne daughters, & To melt the Citty Leades vpon your pates, To see your Wiues dishonour'd to your Noses

Mene. What's the newes? What's the newes?

Com. Your Temples burned in their Ciment, and Your Franchises, whereon you stood, confin'd Into an Augors boare

Mene. Pray now, your Newes: You haue made faire worke I feare me: pray your newes, If Martius should be ioyn'd with Volceans

Com. If? He is their G.o.d, he leads them like a thing Made by some other Deity then Nature, That shapes man Better: and they follow him Against vs Brats, with no lesse Confidence, Then Boyes pursuing Summer b.u.t.ter-flies, Or Butchers killing Flyes

Mene. You haue made good worke, You and your Ap.r.o.n men: you, that stood so much Vpon the voyce of occupation, and The breath of Garlicke-eaters

Com. Hee'l shake your Rome about your eares

Mene. As Hercules did shake downe Mellow Fruite: You haue made faire worke

Brut. But is this true sir?

Com. I, and you'l looke pale Before you finde it other. All the Regions Do smilingly Reuolt, and who resists Are mock'd for valiant Ignorance, And perish constant Fooles: who is't can blame him?

Your Enemies and his, finde something in him

Mene. We are all vndone, vnlesse The n.o.ble man haue mercy

Com. Who shall aske it?

The Tribunes cannot doo't for shame; the people Deserue such pitty of him, as the Wolfe Doe's of the Shepheards: For his best Friends, if they Should say be good to Rome, they charg'd him, euen As those should do that had deseru'd his hate, And therein shew'd like Enemies

Me. 'Tis true, if he were putting to my house, the brand That should consume it, I haue not the face To say, beseech you cease. You haue made faire hands, You and your Crafts, you haue crafted faire

Com. You haue brought A Trembling vpon Rome, such as was neuer S' incapeable of helpe

Tri. Say not, we brought it

Mene. How? Was't we? We lou'd him, But like Beasts, and Cowardly n.o.bles, Gaue way vnto your Cl.u.s.ters, who did hoote Him out o'th' Citty

Com. But I feare They'l roare him in againe. Tullus Affidius, The second name of men, obeyes his points As if he were his Officer: Desperation, Is all the Policy, Strength, and Defence That Rome can make against them.

Enter a Troope of Citizens.

Mene. Heere come the Cl.u.s.ters.

And is Auffidius with him? You are they That made the Ayre vnwholsome, when you cast Your stinking, greasie Caps, in hooting At Coriola.n.u.s Exile. Now he's comming, And not a haire vpon a Souldiers head Which will not proue a whip: As many c.o.xcombes As you threw Caps vp, will he tumble downe, And pay you for your voyces. 'Tis no matter, If he could burne vs all into one coale, We haue deseru'd it