William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Coriolanus

ACT II. 1. SCENE I. Rome. A public place

[Enter MENENIUS, SICINIUS, and BRUTUS.]

MENENIUS.
The augurer tells me we shall have news tonight.

BRUTUS.
Good or bad?

MENENIUS.
Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not
Marcius.

SICINIUS.
Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.

MENENIUS.
Pray you, who does the wolf love?

SICINIUS.
The lamb.

MENENIUS.
Ay, to devour him, as the hungry plebeians would the noble
Marcius.

BRUTUS.
He's a lamb indeed, that baas like a bear.

MENENIUS.
He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men:
tell me one thing that I shall ask you.

BOTH TRIBUNES.
Well, sir.

MENENIUS.
In what enormity is Marcius poor in, that you two have not
in abundance?

BRUTUS.
He's poor in no one fault, but stored with all.

SICINIUS.
Especially in pride.

BRUTUS.
And topping all others in boasting.

MENENIUS.
This is strange now: do you two know how you are censured here in
the city, I mean of us o' the right-hand file? Do you?

BOTH TRIBUNES.
Why, how are we censured?

MENENIUS.
Because you talk of pride now,--will you not be angry?

BOTH TRIBUNES.
Well, well, sir, well.

MENENIUS.
Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion
will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your dispositions
the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you
take it as a pleasure to you in being so. You blame Marcius for
being proud?