ARKCODEX
Act IV, Scene 2
1The same. A street near the gate.
2Enter Sicinius, Brutus, and an Aedile.
3SiciniusBid them all home; he’s gone, and we’ll no further.
The nobility are vex’d, whom we see have sided
In his behalf.
4BrutusNow we have shown our power,
Let us seem humbler after it is done
Than when it was a-doing.
5SiciniusBid them home:
Say their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.
6BrutusDismiss them home. Exit Aedile.
Here comes his mother.
7SiciniusLet’s not meet her.
8BrutusWhy?
9SiciniusThey say she’s mad.
10BrutusThey have ta’en note of us: keep on your way.
11Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and Menenius.
12VolumniaO, ye’re well met: the hoarded plague o’ the gods
Requite your love!
13MeneniusPeace, peace; be not so loud.
14VolumniaIf that I could for weeping, you should hear—
Nay, and you shall hear some. To Brutus. Will you be gone?
15VirgiliaTo Sicinius. You shall stay too: I would I had the power
To say so to my husband.
16SiciniusAre you mankind?
17VolumniaAy, fool; is that a shame? Note but this fool.
Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
Than thou hast spoken words?
18SiciniusO blessed heavens!
19VolumniaMore 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 son
Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand.
20SiciniusWhat then?
21VirgiliaWhat then!
He’ld make an end of thy posterity.
22VolumniaBastards and all.
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
23MeneniusCome, come, peace.
24SiciniusI would he had continued to his country
As he began, and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.
25BrutusI would he had.
26Volumnia“I would he had”! ’Twas you incensed the rabble:
Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth
As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.
27BrutusPray, let us go.
28VolumniaNow, pray, sir, get you gone:
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:—
As far as doth the Capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome, so far my son—
This lady’s husband here, this, do you see—
Whom you have banish’d, does exceed you all.
29BrutusWell, well, we’ll leave you.
30SiciniusWhy stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits?
31VolumniaTake my prayers with you. Exeunt Tribunes.
I would the gods had nothing else to do
But to confirm my curses! Could I meet ’em
But once a-day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to’t.
32MeneniusYou have told them home;
And, by my troth, you have cause. You’ll sup with me?
33VolumniaAnger’s my meat; I sup upon myself,
And 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.
34MeneniusFie, fie, fie! Exeunt.