Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/90

78 

I talk of you:

Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me

False to my nature? Rather say I play

The man I am.

Vol. O! sir, sir, sir,

I would have had you put your power well on

Before you had worn it out.

Cor. Let go.

Vol. You might have been enough the man you are

With striving less to be so: lesser had been

The thwartings of your dispositions if

You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd,

Ere they lack'd power to cross you.

Cor. Let them hang.

Vol. Ay, and burn too.

Men. Come, come; you have been too rough, something too rough;

You must return and mend it.

Sen. There's no remedy;

Unless, by not so doing, our good city

Cleave in the midst, and perish.

Vol. Pray be counsell'd.

I have a heart as little apt as yours,

But yet a brain that leads my use of anger

To better vantage.

Men. Well said, noble woman!

Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that

The violent fit o' the time craves it as physic

For the whole state, I would put mine armour on,

 18 Let go: No more of that

21 thwartings; cf. n.

28 Cleave midst: break in two

29 as little apt: as unbending

32 but: except

