Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/87

The Tragedy of Coriolanus, III. i

Men. The Consul Coriolanus.

Bru. He consul!

All. No, no, no, no, no.

Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people,

I may be heard, I would crave a word or two,

The which shall turn you to no further harm

Than so much loss of time.

Sic. Speak briefly then;

For we are peremptory to dispatch

This viperous traitor. To eject him hence

Were but one danger, and to keep him here

Our certain death; therefore it is decreed

He dies to-night.

Men. Now the good gods forbid

That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude

Towards her deserved children is enroll'd

In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam

Should now eat up her own!

Sic. He's a disease that must be cut away.

Men. O! he's a limb that has but a disease;

Mortal to cut it off; to cure it easy.

What has he done to Rome that's worthy death?

Killing our enemies, the blood he hath lost,—

Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath

By many an ounce,—he dropp'd it for his country;

And what is left, to lose it by his country,

Were to us all, that do 't and suffer it,

A brand to th' end o' the world.

Sic. This is clean kam.

Bru. Merely awry: when he did love his country

 282 turn you to: occasion you

284 peremptory: resolved

291 dam: mother (of beasts)

295 Mortal: producing death

301 suffer: permit

302 brand: mark of infamy

clean kam: absolutely perverse

303 Merely: completely

