Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence
Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers
That do distribute it- in the name o' th' people,
And in the power of us the tribunes, we,
Ev'n from this instant, banish him our city,
In peril of precipitation
From off the rock Tarpeian, never more
To enter our Rome gates. I' th' people's name,
I say it shall be so.
PLEBEIANS. It shall be so, it shall be so! Let him away!
He's banish'd, and it shall be so.
COMINIUS. Hear me, my masters and my common friends-
SICINIUS. He's sentenc'd; no more hearing.
COMINIUS. Let me speak.
I have been consul, and can show for Rome
Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love
My country's good with a respect more tender,
More holy and profound, than mine own life,
My dear wife's estimate, her womb's increase
And treasure of my loins. Then if I would
Speak that-
SICINIUS. We know your drift. Speak what?
BRUTUS. There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd,
As enemy to the people and his country.
It shall be so.
PLEBEIANS. It shall be so, it shall be so.
CORIOLANUS. You common cry of curs, whose breath I hate
As reek o' th' rotten fens, whose loves I prize
As the dead carcasses of unburied men
That do corrupt my air- I banish you.
And here remain with your uncertainty!
Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts;
Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes,
Fan you into despair! Have the power still
To banish your defenders, till at length
Your ignorance- which finds not till it feels,
Making but reservation of yourselves
Still your own foes- deliver you
As most abated captives to some nation
That won you without blows! Despising
For you the city, thus I turn my back;
There is a world elsewhere.
Exeunt CORIOLANUS,
COMINIUS, MENENIUS, with the other PATRICIANS
AEDILE. The people's enemy is gone, is gone!
[They all shout and throw up their caps]
PLEBEIANS. Our enemy is banish'd, he is gone! Hoo-oo!
SICINIUS. Go see him out at gates, and follow him,
As he hath follow'd you, with all despite;
Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard
Attend us through the city.
PLEBEIANS. Come, come, let's see him out at gates; come!
The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come. Exeunt
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ACT IV. SCENE I.
Rome. Before a gate of the city
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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