William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Coriolanus

ACT III. 1. SCENE I. Rome. A street (continued)

COMINIUS.
Aged sir, hands off.

CORIOLANUS.
Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones
Out of thy garments.

SICINIUS.
Help, ye citizens!

[Re-enter Brutus, with the AEDILES and a rabble of Citizens.]

MENENIUS.
On both sides more respect.

SICINIUS.
Here's he that would take from you all your power.

BRUTUS.
Seize him, aediles.

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!

CITIZENS.
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 the people,--Coriolanus, patience:--
Speak, good Sicinius.

SICINIUS.
Hear me, people: peace!

CITIZENS.
Let's hear our tribune: peace!--
Speak, speak, speak.

SICINIUS.
You are at point to lose your liberties;
Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,
Whom late you have nam'd 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?
CITIZENS.
True,
The people are the city.

BRUTUS.
By the consent of all, we were establish'd
The people's magistrates.

CITIZENS.
You so remain.

MENENIUS.
And so are like to do.