Page:Coriolanus (1924) Yale.djvu/99

The Tragedy of Coriolanus, III. iii

Sic. Peace!

We need not put new matter to his charge:

What you have seen him do, and heard him speak,

Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,

Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying

Those whose great power must try him; even this,

So criminal and in such capital kind,

Deserves th' extremest death.

Bru. But since he hath

Serv'd well for Rome,—

Cor. What do you prate of service?

Bru. I talk of that, that know it.

Cor. You!

Men. Is this the promise that you made your mother?

Com. Know, I pray you,—

Cor. I'll know no further:

Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,

Vagabond exile, flaying, pent to linger

But with a grain a day, I would not buy

Their mercy at the price of one fair word,

Nor check my courage for what they can give,

To have 't with saying 'Good morrow.'

Sic. For that he has,—

As much as in him lies,—from time to time

Envied against the people, seeking means

To pluck away their power, as now at last

Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence

Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers

That doth distribute it; in the name o' the people,

And in the power of us the tribunes, we,

 80 capital kind: death-deserving measure

87 pent: imprisoned

linger: starve slowly

91 To have 't: though I could have it

93 Envied: been malignant

95 not: not merely

97 doth: do; cf. n.

