Coriolanus

Coriolanus

ACT IV SCENE II	The same. A street near the gate.
	Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an AEdile
SICINIUS	Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.
	The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided
	In his behalf.
BRUTUS	Now we have shown our power,	5
	Let us seem humbler after it is done
	Than when it was a-doing.
SICINIUS	Bid them home:
	Say their great enemy is gone, and they
	Stand in their ancient strength.	10
BRUTUS	Dismiss them home.
	Exit AEdile
	Here comes his mother.
SICINIUS	Let's not meet her.
BRUTUS	Why?
SICINIUS	They say she's mad.	15
BRUTUS	They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.
	Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS
VOLUMNIA	O, ye're well met: the hoarded plague o' the gods
	Requite your love!
MENENIUS	Peace, peace; be not so loud.
VOLUMNIA	If that I could for weeping, you should hear,--	20
	Nay, and you shall hear some.
	To BRUTUS
	Will you be gone?
VIRGILIA	To SICINIUS
	To say so to my husband.
SICINIUS	Are you mankind?
VOLUMNIA	Ay, fool; is that a shame? Note but this fool.	25
	Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
	To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
	Than thou hast spoken words?
SICINIUS	O blessed heavens!
VOLUMNIA	More noble blows than ever thou wise words;	30
	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.
SICINIUS	What then?	35
VIRGILIA	What then!
	He'ld make an end of thy posterity.
VOLUMNIA	Bastards and all.
	Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
MENENIUS	Come, come, peace.	40
SICINIUS	I would he had continued to his country
	As he began, and not unknit himself
	The noble knot he made.
BRUTUS	I would he had.
VOLUMNIA	'I would he had'! 'Twas you incensed the rabble:	45
	Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth
	As I can of those mysteries which heaven
	Will not have earth to know.
BRUTUS	Pray, let us go.
VOLUMNIA	Now, pray, sir, get you gone:	50
	You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:--
	As far as doth the Capitol exceed
	The meanest house in Rome, so far my son--
	This lady's husband here, this, do you see--
	Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.	55
BRUTUS	Well, well, we'll leave you.
SICINIUS	Why stay we to be baited
	With one that wants her wits?
VOLUMNIA	Take my prayers with you.
	Exeunt Tribunes
	I would the gods had nothing else to do	60
	But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em
	But once a-day, it would unclog my heart
	Of what lies heavy to't.
MENENIUS	You have told them home;
	And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?	65
VOLUMNIA	Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
	And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go:
	Leave this faint puling and lament as I do,
	In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
MENENIUS	Fie, fie, fie!	70
	Exeunt