Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/79

The Tragedy of Coriolanus, III. i

Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake

Your dangerous lenity. If you are learn'd,

Be not as common fools; if you are not,

Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians

If they be senators; and they are no less,

When, both your voices blended, the great'st taste

Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate,

And such a one as he, who puts his 'shall,'

His popular 'shall,' against a graver bench

Than ever frown'd in Greece. By Jove himself!

It makes the consuls base; and my soul aches

To know, when two authorities are up,

Neither supreme, how soon confusion

May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take

The one by th' other.

Com. Well, on to the market-place.

Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth

The corn o' the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd

Sometime in Greece,—

Men. Well, well; no more of that.

Cor. Though there the people had more absolute power,

I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed

The ruin of the state.

Bru. Why, shall the people give

One that speaks thus their voice?

Cor. I'll give my reasons,

More worthier than their voices. They know the corn

Was not our recompense, resting well assur'd

They ne'er did service for 't. Being press'd to the war,

 97 vail ignorance: let your folly submit

97, 98 awake lenity: arouse yourselves from your dangerous mildness

100 cushions: i.e. seats in the Senate

102 great'st taste: predominant taste

103 palates: smacks of

108 up: established

110 gap of both: cleavage between the two

110, 111 take other: use the one to overthrow the other

120 our recompense: fair payment from us

121 press'd: enlisted

