| [Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an AEdile] | |
| SICINIUS | Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further. The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided In his behalf. |
| BRUTUS | Now we have shown our power, Let us seem humbler after it is done Than when it was a-doing. |
| SICINIUS | Bid them home: Say their great enemy is gone, and they Stand in their ancient strength. |
| BRUTUS | Dismiss them home. |
| [Exit AEdile] | |
| Here comes his mother. | |
| 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. |
| [Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS] | |
| VOLUMNIA | O, ye're well met: the hoarded plague o' the gods Requite 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 BRUTUS] | |
| Will you be gone? | |
| VIRGILIA | [To SICINIUS] You shall stay too: I would I had the power To 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 foxship To banish him that struck more blows for Rome Than 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 son Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand. |
| SICINIUS | What then? |
| VIRGILIA | What then! He'ld 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 country As he began, and not unknit himself The 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 worth As I can of those mysteries which heaven Will not have earth to know. |
| BRUTUS | Pray, let us 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 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. |
| BRUTUS | Well, well, we'll leave you. |
| SICINIUS | Why stay we to be baited With one that wants her wits? |
| VOLUMNIA | Take 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. |
|
| 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 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. |
| MENENIUS | Fie, fie, fie! |
| [Exeunt] |