ACT IV. SCENE II.
Rome. A street near the gate
Enter the two Tribunes, SICINIUS and BRUTUS with the AEDILE
| SICINIUS. | Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.
The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided
In his behalf.
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| BRUTUS. | Now we have shown our power,
Let us seem humbler after it is done
Than when it was a-doing.
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| SICINIUS. | Bid them home.
Say their great enemy is gone, and they
Stand in their ancient strength.
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| BRUTUS. | Dismiss them home
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Exit AEDILE
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Here comes his mother.
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Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS
| SICINIUS. | Let's not meet her.
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| BRUTUS. | Why?
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| SICINIUS. | They say she's mad.
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| BRUTUS. | They have ta'en note of us; keep on your way.
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| VOLUMNIA. | O, Y'are well met; th' hoarded plague o' th' gods
Requite your love!
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| MENENIUS. | Peace, peace, be not so loud.
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| VOLUMNIA. | If that I could for weeping, you should hear-
Nay, and you shall hear some. [To BRUTUS] Will you be gone?
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| VIRGILIA. | [To SICINIUS] You shall stay too. I would I had the
power
To say so to my husband.
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| SICINIUS. | Are you mankind?
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| 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?
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| SICINIUS. | O blessed heavens!
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| VOLUMNIA. | Moe 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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| SICINIUS. | What then?
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| VIRGILIA. | What then!
He'd make an end of thy posterity.
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| VOLUMNIA. | Bastards and all.
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
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| MENENIUS. | Come, come, peace.
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| SICINIUS. | I would he had continued to his country
As he began, and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.
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| BRUTUS. | I would he had.
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| VOLUMNIA. | 'I would he had!' 'Twas you incens'd the rabble-
Cats that can judge as fitly of his worth
As I can of those mysteries which heaven
Will not have earth to know.
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| BRUTUS. | Pray, let's go.
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| VOLUMNIA. | Now, pray, sir, get you gone;
You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this:
As far as doth the Capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome, so far my son-
This lady's husband here, this, do you see?-
Whom you have banish'd does exceed you an.
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| BRUTUS. | Well, well, we'll leave you.
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| SICINIUS. | Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits? Exeunt TRIBUNES
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| VOLUMNIA. | Take my prayers with you.
I would the gods had nothing else to do
But to confirm my curses. Could I meet 'em
But once a day, it would unclog my heart
Of what lies heavy to't.
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| MENENIUS. | You have told them home,
And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?
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| VOLUMNIA. | Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
And so shall starve with feeding. Come, let's go.
Leave this faint puling and lament as I do,
In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
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Exeunt VOLUMNIA and VIRGILIA
| MENENIUS. | Fie, fie, fie! Exit
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Next
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ACT IV. SCENE II.