Shakespeare Portal

Act 4, Scene 2

Rome. A street near the gate.

  1. [Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an AEDILE.]
  2. Sicinius Velutus
  3. 2353 Bid them all home; he's gone, and we'll no further.—
  4. 2354 The nobility are vex'd, whom we see have sided
  5. 2355 In his behalf.
  6. Junius Brutus
  7. 2356 Now we have shown our power,
  8. 2357 Let us seem humbler after it is done
  9. 2358 Than when it was a-doing.
  10. Sicinius Velutus
  11. 2359 Bid them home:
  12. 2360 Say their great enemy is gone, and they
  13. 2361 Stand in their ancient strength.
  14. Junius Brutus
  15. 2362 Dismiss them home.
  16. [Exit AEDILE.]
  17. Junius Brutus
  18. 2363 Here comes his mother.
  19. Sicinius Velutus
  20. 2364 Let's not meet her.
  21. Junius Brutus
  22. 2365 Why?
  23. Sicinius Velutus
  24. 2366 They say she's mad.
  25. Junius Brutus
  26. 2367 They have ta'en note of us: keep on your way.
  27. [Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS.]
  28. Volumnia
  29. 2368 O, you're well met: the hoarded plague o' the gods
  30. 2369 Requite your love!
  31. Menenius Agrippa
  32. 2370 Peace, peace, be not so loud.
  33. Volumnia
  34. 2371 If that I could for weeping, you should hear,—
  35. 2372 Nay, and you shall hear some.—
  36. [To BRUTUS.]
  37. Volumnia
  38. 2373 Will you be gone?
  39. Virgilia
  40. 2374 You shall stay too
  41. [To SICINIUS.]
  42. Virgilia
  43. 2375 : I would I had the power
  44. 2376 To say so to my husband.
  45. Sicinius Velutus
  46. 2377 Are you mankind?
  47. Volumnia
  48. 2378 Ay, fool; is that a shame?—Note but this, fool.—
  49. 2379 Was not a man my father? Hadst thou foxship
  50. 2380 To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
  51. 2381 Than thou hast spoken words?—
  52. Sicinius Velutus
  53. 2382 O blessed heavens!
  54. Volumnia
  55. 2383 Moe noble blows than ever thou wise words;
  56. 2384 And for Rome's good.—I'll tell thee what;—yet go;—
  57. 2385 Nay, but thou shalt stay too:—I would my son
  58. 2386 Were in Arabia, and thy tribe before him,
  59. 2387 His good sword in his hand.
  60. Sicinius Velutus
  61. 2388 What then?
  62. Virgilia
  63. 2389 What then!
  64. 2390 He'd make an end of thy posterity.
  65. Volumnia
  66. 2391 Bastards and all.—
  67. 2392 Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
  68. Menenius Agrippa
  69. 2393 Come, come, peace.
  70. Sicinius Velutus
  71. 2394 I would he had continu'd to his country
  72. 2395 As he began, and not unknit himself
  73. 2396 The noble knot he made.
  74. Junius Brutus
  75. 2397 I would he had.
  76. Volumnia
  77. 2398 I would he had! 'Twas you incens'd the rabble;—
  78. 2399 Cats, that can judge as fitly of his worth
  79. 2400 As I can of those mysteries which heaven
  80. 2401 Will not have earth to know.
  81. Junius Brutus
  82. 2402 Pray, let us go.
  83. Volumnia
  84. 2403 Now, pray, sir, get you gone:
  85. 2404 You have done a brave deed. Ere you go, hear this,—
  86. 2405 As far as doth the Capitol exceed
  87. 2406 The meanest house in Rome, so far my son,—
  88. 2407 This lady's husband here; this, do you see?—
  89. 2408 Whom you have banish'd does exceed you all.
  90. Junius Brutus
  91. 2409 Well, well, we'll leave you.
  92. Sicinius Velutus
  93. 2410 Why stay we to be baited
  94. 2411 With one that wants her wits?
  95. Volumnia
  96. 2412 Take my prayers with you.—
  97. [Exeunt TRIBUNES.]
  98. Volumnia
  99. 2413 I would the gods had nothing else to do
  100. 2414 But to confirm my curses! Could I meet 'em
  101. 2415 But once a day, it would unclog my heart
  102. 2416 Of what lies heavy to't.
  103. Menenius Agrippa
  104. 2417 You have told them home,
  105. 2418 And, by my troth, you have cause. You'll sup with me?
  106. Volumnia
  107. 2419 Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
  108. 2420 And so shall starve with feeding.—Come, let's go:
  109. 2421 Leave this faint puling and lament as I do,
  110. 2422 In anger, Juno-like. Come, come, come.
  111. [Exeunt.]
  112. Menenius Agrippa
  113. 2423 Fie, fie, fie!