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Below the beam of sight, yet will I stil

Be thus to them.

1 Pat.

Enter VOLUMNIA.

You do the nobler.

Cor. I muse, my mother

Does not approve me further, who was wɔn:
To call them woollen vassals, things created
To buy and sell with groats; to show bare heads
In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder,
When one but of my ordinance stood up
I talk of you;

To speak of peace, or war.

[TO VOLUMNIA.

Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me False to my nature? Rather say, I play

The man I am.

Vol.

O, sir, sir, sir,

I would have had you put your power well on,
Before you had worn it out.

Cor.

Let go.

Vol. You might have been enough the man you are, With striving less to be so: Lesser had been The thwartings of your dispositions, if

You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd

Ere they lack'd power to cross you.

Cor.

Vol. Ay, and burn too.

Let them hang.

Enter MENENIUS, and Senators.

Men Come, come, you have been too rough, some

thing too rough;

You must return, and mend it.

1 Sen.

There's no remedy;

Unless, by not so doing, our good city
Cleave in the midst, and perish.

Vol.

Pray be counsel'd:

I have a heart as little apt as yours,
But yet a brain, that leads my use of anger,

To better vantage.

Men.

Well said, noble woman:

Before he should thus stoop to th' herd, but that
The violent fit o'th' time craves it as physick
For the whole state, I would put mine armour on,
Which I can scarcely bear.

Cor. What must I do?

Men.

Cor.

What then? what then?

Men.

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Repent what you have spoke.

Cor. For them?—I cannot do it to the gods;

Must I then do't to them?

Vol..

You are too absolute;

Though therein you can never be too noble,

But when extremities speak. I have heard you say, Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends,

I'th' war do grow together: Grant that, and tell me, In peace, what each of them by th' other lose,

That they combine not there.

Cor.

Men.

Tush, tush!

A good demand.

your

Vol. If it be honour, in your wars, to seem
The same you are not, (which, for best ends,
You adopt your policy,) how is it less, or worse,
That it shall hold companionship in peace
With honour, as in war; since that to both
It stands in like request?

Cor.

Why force you this?

Vol. Because that now it lies you on to speak

To th' people; not by your own instruction,

Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you to,
But with such words that are but roted in

Your tongue, though but bastards, and syllables
Of no allowance, to your bosom's truth.
Now, this no more dishonours you at all,
Than to take in a town with gentle words,
Which else would put you to your fortune, and
The hazard of much blood.-

f

I would dissemble with my nature, where
My fortunes, and my friends, at stake, requir'd,
I should do so in honour: I am in this,

Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;
And you
will rather show our general lowts
How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon them,
For the inheritance of their loves, and safeguard
Of what that want might ruin.

Men.
Noble lady!-
Come, go with us; speak fair: you may salve so,
Not what is dangerous present, but the loss

Of what is past.

Vol.

I pr'ythee now, my son,

Go to them, with this bonnet in thy hand;

And thus far having stretch'd it, (here be with them,)

Thy knee bussing the stones, (for in such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant
More learned then the ears,) waving thy head,
Which often, thus, correcting thy stout heart,
That humble, as the ripest mulberry,

Now will not hold the handling: Or, say to them,
Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils,

Hast not the soft way, which, thou dost confess,
Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,

In asking their good loves but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far

As thou hast power, and person.

This but done,

Men. Even as she speaks, why, all their hearts were yours: For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free

As words to little purpose.

Vol.

Pr'ythee now,

Go, and be rul'd: although, I know, thou had'st rather Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf,

Than flatter him in a bower.

Here is Cominius.

Enter COMINIUS.

Com. I have been i' th' market-place: and, sir, 'tis fit You make strong party, or defend yourself

By calmness, or by absence; all's in anger.

Men. Only fair speech.

Com.

I think, 'twill serve, if he

Can thereto frame his spirit.

Vol.

He must, and will:

Pr'ythee, now, say, you will, and go about it.

Cor. Must I go show them my unbarb'd sconce› Must I With my base tongue, give to my noble heart A lie, that it must bear? Well, I will do't: Yet were there but this single plot to lose, This mould of Marcius, they to dust should grind it, And throw it against the wind.-To th' market-place:You have put me now to such a part, which never I shall discharge to th' life.

Com.

Come, come, we'll prompt you. Vol. I pr'ythee now, sweet son; as thou hast said,

My praises made thee first a soldier, so,

To have my praise for this, perform a part
Thou hast not done before.

Cor.

Well, I must do't:

Away, my disposition, and possess me

Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my drum, into a pipe
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice

That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves
Tent in my cheeks; and school-boys' tears take up
The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue

Make motion through my lips; and my arm'd knees,
Who bow'd but in my stirrop, bend like his
That hath receiv'd an alms!-I will not do't:
Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth,
And, by my body's action, teach my mind
A most inherent baseness.

Vol.
At thy choice then:
To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour,
Than thou of them. Come all to ruin; let
Thy mother rather feel thy pride, than fear
Thy dangerous stoutness; for I mock at death
With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list.

Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me;
But owe thy pride thyself.

Cor.

Pray, be content;

Mother, I am going to the market-place;

Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves,

Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd
Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going:

Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul;
Or never trust to what my tongue can do
I' th' way of flattery, further.

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