Enter a rabble of Plebeians with the Aediles. MENENIUS. On both sides more respect! SICINIUS. Here’s he that would take from you all your power. BRUTUS. Seize him, aediles. ALL PLEBEIANS. Down with him, down with him! SECOND SENATOR. Weapons, weapons, weapons! [_They all bustle about Coriolanus._] Tribunes, patricians, citizens, what, ho! Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens! ALL. Peace, peace, peace! Stay, hold, peace! MENENIUS. What is about to be? I am out of breath. Confusion’s near. I cannot speak. You tribunes To th’ people!—Coriolanus, patience!— Speak, good Sicinius. SICINIUS. Hear me, people! Peace! ALL PLEBEIANS. Let’s hear our tribune. Peace! Speak, speak, speak. SICINIUS. You are at point to lose your liberties. Martius would have all from you, Martius, Whom late you have named for consul. MENENIUS. Fie, fie, fie! This is the way to kindle, not to quench. FIRST SENATOR. To unbuild the city and to lay all flat. SICINIUS. What is the city but the people? ALL PLEBEIANS. True, The people are the city. BRUTUS. By the consent of all, we were established The people’s magistrates. ALL PLEBEIANS. You so remain. MENENIUS. And so are like to do. COMINIUS. That is the way to lay the city flat, To bring the roof to the foundation And bury all which yet distinctly ranges In heaps and piles of ruin. SICINIUS. This deserves death. BRUTUS. Or let us stand to our authority Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce, Upon the part o’ th’ people, in whose power We were elected theirs, Martius is worthy Of present death. SICINIUS. Therefore lay hold of him, Bear him to th’ rock Tarpeian, and from thence Into destruction cast him. BRUTUS. Aediles, seize him! ALL PLEBEIANS. Yield, Martius, yield! MENENIUS. Hear me one word. Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word. AEDILES. Peace, peace! MENENIUS. Be that you seem, truly your country’s friend, And temp’rately proceed to what you would Thus violently redress. BRUTUS. Sir, those cold ways, That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous Where the disease is violent.—Lay hands upon him, And bear him to the rock. [_Coriolanus draws his sword._] CORIOLANUS. No; I’ll die here. There’s some among you have beheld me fighting. Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. MENENIUS. Down with that sword!—Tribunes, withdraw awhile. BRUTUS. Lay hands upon him! MENENIUS. Help Martius, help! You that be noble, help him, young and old! ALL PLEBEIANS. Down with him, down with him! [_In this mutiny the Tribunes, the Aediles and the People are beat in._] MENENIUS. Go, get you to your house. Begone, away. All will be naught else. SECOND SENATOR. Get you gone. CORIOLANUS. Stand fast! We have as many friends as enemies. MENENIUS. Shall it be put to that? FIRST SENATOR. The gods forbid! I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house; Leave us to cure this cause. MENENIUS. For ’tis a sore upon us You cannot tent yourself. Begone, beseech you. COMINIUS. Come, sir, along with us.