The Complete Works of William Shakespeare · William Shakespeare
SCENE II. Rome. A street near the gate
Enter two Tribunes, Sicinius, Brutus with the Aedile. SICINIUS. Bid them all home. He’s gone, and we’ll no further. The nobility are vexed, whom we see have sided In his behalf. BRUTUS. Now we have shown our power, Let us seem humbler after it is done Than when it was a-doing. SICINIUS. Bid them home. Say their great enemy is gone, and they Stand in their ancient strength. BRUTUS. Dismiss them home. [_Exit Aedile._] Here comes his mother. Enter Volumnia, Virgilia and Menenius. SICINIUS. Let’s not meet her. BRUTUS. Why? SICINIUS. They say she’s mad. BRUTUS. They have ta’en note of us. Keep on your way. VOLUMNIA. O, you’re well met. The hoarded plague o’ th’ gods Requite your love! MENENIUS. Peace, peace! Be not so loud. VOLUMNIA. If that I could for weeping, you should hear— Nay, and you shall hear some. [_To Sicinius_.] Will you be gone? VIRGILIA. [_To Brutus_.] You shall stay too. I would I had the power To say so to my husband. SICINIUS. Are you mankind? VOLUMNIA. Ay, fool, is that a shame? Note but this, fool. Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship To banish him that struck more blows for Rome Than thou hast spoken words? SICINIUS. O blessed heavens! VOLUMNIA. More noble blows than ever thou wise words, And for Rome’s good. I’ll tell thee what—yet go. Nay, but thou shalt stay too. I would my son Were in Arabia and thy tribe before him, His good sword in his hand.
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