Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/122

110

Before you punish him, where he heard this,

Lest you shall chance to whip your information,

And beat the messenger who bids beware

Of what is to be dreaded.

Sic. Tell not me:

I know this cannot be.

Bru. Not possible.

Mess. The nobles in great earnestness are going

All to the senate-house: some news is coming,

That turns their countenances.

Sic. 'Tis this slave—

Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes: his raising;

Nothing but his report.

Mess. Yes, worthy sir,

The slave's report is seconded; and more,

More fearful, is deliver'd.

Sic. What more fearful?

Mess. It is spoke freely out of many mouths—

How probable I do not know—that Martius,

Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome,

And vows revenge as spacious as between

The young'st and oldest thing.

Sic. This is most likely!

Bru. Rais'd only, that the weaker sort may wish

Good Martius home again.

Sic. The very trick on 't.

Men. This is unlikely:

He and Aufidius can no more atone

Than violent'st contrariety.

 59 coming; cf. n.

68, 69 And vows thing; cf. n.

73 atone: grow reconciled

