Act IVScene II
Rome. A street near the gate
Enter two Tribunes, Sicinius, Brutus with the Aedile.
Sicinius
Bid them all home. He’s gone, and we’ll no further.The nobility are vexed, whom we see have sidedIn his behalf.
Brutus
Now we have shown our power,Let us seem humbler after it is doneThan when it was a-doing.
Sicinius
Bid them home.Say their great enemy is gone, and theyStand in their ancient strength.
Brutus
Dismiss them home.
Exit Aedile.
Here comes his mother.
Enter Volumnia, Virgilia and Menenius.
Sicinius
Let’s not meet her.
Brutus
Why?
Sicinius
They say she’s mad.
Brutus
They have ta’en note of us. Keep on your way.
Volumnia
O, you’re well met. The hoarded plague o’ th’ godsRequite your love!
Menenius
Peace, peace! Be not so loud.
Volumnia
If that I could for weeping, you should hear—Nay, and you shall hear some.
To Sicinius.
Will you be gone?
Virgilia
To Brutus.
You shall stay too. I would I had the powerTo say so to my husband.
Sicinius
Are you mankind?
Volumnia
Ay, fool, is that a shame? Note but this, fool.Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxshipTo banish him that struck more blows for RomeThan thou hast spoken words?
Sicinius
O blessed heavens!
Volumnia
More noble blows than ever thou wise words,And for Rome’s good. I’ll tell thee what—yet go.Nay, but thou shalt stay too. I would my sonWere in Arabia and thy tribe before him,His good sword in his hand.
Sicinius
What then?
Virgilia
What then?He’d make an end of thy posterity.
Volumnia
Bastards and all.Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
Menenius
Come, come, peace.
Sicinius
I would he had continued to his countryAs he began, and not unknit himselfThe noble knot he made.
Brutus
I would he had.
Volumnia
“I would he had?” ’Twas you incensed the rabble.Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worthAs I can of those mysteries which heavenWill not have Earth to know.
Brutus
Pray, let’s go.
Volumnia
Now, pray, sir, get you gone.You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:As far as doth the Capitol exceedThe meanest house in Rome, so far my son—This lady’s husband here, this, do you see?—Whom you have banished, does exceed you all.
Brutus
Well, well, we’ll leave you.
Sicinius
Why stay we to be baitedWith one that wants her wits?
Exeunt Tribunes.
Volumnia
Take my prayers with you.I would the gods had nothing else to doBut to confirm my curses. Could I meet ’emBut once a day, it would unclog my heartOf what lies heavy to’t.
Menenius
You have told them home,And, by my troth, you have cause. You’ll sup with me?
Volumnia
Anger’s my meat. I sup upon myselfAnd 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.
Exeunt.
Menenius
Fie, fie, fie!
Exit Menenius.