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.
BRUTUS
Here comes his mother.
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. Will you be gone?
VIRGILIA
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 foxship
To banish him that struck more blows for Rome
Than spoken words?
SICINIUS
O blessed heavens!
VOLUMNIA
More noble blows than ever wise words,
And for Rome’s good. I’ll tell what—yet go.
Nay, but stay too. I would my son
Were in Arabia and tribe before him,
His good sword in his hand.
SICINIUS
What then?
VIRGILIA
What then?
He’d make an end of posterity.
VOLUMNIA
Bastards and all.
Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!
MENENIUS
Come, come, peace.
SICINIUS
I would he had continued to his country
As he began, and not unknit himself
The noble knot he made.
BRUTUS
I would he had.
VOLUMNIA
“I would he had?” you incensed 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.
BRUTUS
Pray, let’s go.
VOLUMNIA
Now, pray, sir, get you gone.
You have done a brave deed. you go, hear this:
As far as the Capitol exceed
The meanest house in Rome, so far my son—
This lady’s husband here, this, do you see?—
Whom you have banished, does exceed you all.
BRUTUS
Well, well, we’ll leave you.
SICINIUS
Why stay we to be baited
With one that wants her wits?
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.
MENENIUS
You have told them home,
And, by my troth, you have cause. You’ll sup with me?
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.
MENENIUS
Fie, fie, fie!