Coriolanus by William Shakespeare
Act 4 - Scene 2
The same. A street near the gate.
Sicinius Velutus : Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.
[p]The nobility
are vex'd, whom we see have sided
[p]In his behalf.
Junius Brutus : Now we have shown our power,
[p]Let us seem humbler after it is
done
[p]Than when it was a-doing.
Sicinius Velutus : Bid them home:
[p]Say their great enemy is gone, and they
[p]Stand in
their ancient strength.
Junius Brutus : Dismiss them home.
[p][Exit AEdile]
[p]Here comes his mother.
Sicinius Velutus : Let's not meet her.
Junius Brutus : Why?
Sicinius Velutus : They say she's mad.
Junius Brutus : They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.
Volumnia : O, ye're well met: the hoarded plague o' the gods
[p]Requite your
love!
Menenius Agrippa : Peace, peace; be not so loud.
Volumnia : If that I could for weeping, you should hear,--
[p]Nay, and you shall
hear some.
[p][To BRUTUS]
[p]Will you be gone?
Virgilia : [To SICINIUS] You shall stay too: I would I had the power
[p]To say so
to my husband.
Sicinius Velutus : Are you mankind?
Volumnia : Ay, fool; is that a shame? Note but this fool.
[p]Was not a man my
father? Hadst thou foxship
[p]To banish him that struck more blows for
Rome
[p]Than thou hast spoken words?
Sicinius Velutus : O blessed heavens!
Volumnia : More noble blows than ever thou wise words;
[p]And for Rome's good.
I'll tell thee what; yet go:
[p]Nay, but thou shalt stay too: I would
my son
[p]Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
[p]His good sword
in his hand.
Sicinius Velutus : What then?
Virgilia : What then!
[p]He'ld make an end of thy posterity.
Volumnia : Bastards and all.
[p]Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
Menenius Agrippa : Come, come, peace.
Sicinius Velutus : I would he had continued to his country
[p]As he began, and not unknit
himself
[p]The noble knot he made.
Junius Brutus : I would he had.
Volumnia : 'I would he had'! 'Twas you incensed the rabble:
[p]Cats, that can
judge as fitly of his worth
[p]As I can of those mysteries which
heaven
[p]Will not have earth to know.
Junius Brutus : Pray, let us go.
Volumnia : Now, pray, sir, get you gone:
[p]You have done a brave deed. Ere you
go, hear this:--
[p]As far as doth the Capitol exceed
[p]The meanest
house in Rome, so far my son--
[p]This lady's husband here, this, do
you see--
[p]Whom you have banish'd, does exceed you all.
Junius Brutus : Well, well, we'll leave you.
Sicinius Velutus : Why stay we to be baited
[p]With one that wants her wits?
Volumnia : Take my prayers with you.
[p][Exeunt Tribunes]
[p]I would the gods had
nothing else to do
[p]But to confirm my curses! Could I meet
'em
[p]But once a-day, it would unclog my heart
[p]Of what lies heavy
to't.
Menenius Agrippa : You have told them home;
[p]And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll
sup with me?
Volumnia : Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
[p]And so shall starve with
feeding. Come, let's go:
[p]Leave this faint puling and lament as I
do,
[p]In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
Menenius Agrippa : Fie, fie, fie!
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Next: Act 4 - Scene 3
