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The same. A street near the gate. |
The same street, near the gate. |
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Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an Aedile |
SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an aedile enter. |
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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. |
SICINIUS
Tell them all to go home. He’s gone, and we won’t go any further. The nobles who sided with him are angry. |
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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. |
BRUTUS
Now that we’ve exerted our power, let’s at least pretend to be humble, like before. |
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SICINIUS
Bid them home: Say their great enemy is gone, and they Stand in their ancient strength. |
SICINIUS
Tell them to go home. Explain that their great enemy is gone and that their freedoms have been restored. |
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BRUTUS
Dismiss them home. |
BRUTUS
Send them home. |
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Exit Aedile |
The aedile exits. |
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Here comes his mother. |
Here comes his mother. |
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SICINIUS
Let’s not meet her. |
SICINIUS
Let’s not talk to her. |
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BRUTUS
Why? |
BRUTUS
Why? |
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SICINIUS
They say she’s mad. |
SICINIUS
They say she’s crazy. |
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BRUTUS
They have ta’en note of us: keep on your way. |
BRUTUS
They’ve seen us. Keep walking. |
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Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS |
VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS enter. |
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VOLUMNIA
O, ye’re well met: the hoarded plague o’ the gods Requite your love! |
VOLUMNIA
Some coincidence, running into you. May the gods repay you for this with the plague! |
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MENENIUS
Peace, peace; be not so loud. |
MENENIUS
Calm down. Don’t be so loud. |
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VOLUMNIA
If that I could for weeping, you should hear,— Nay, and you shall hear some. |
VOLUMNIA
If I could cry quietly I would. You should hear me cry—No, you will hear me. |
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To BRUTUS |
To Brutus |
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Will you be gone? |
Where are you going? |
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VIRGILIA
(to SICINIUS) You shall stay too: I would I had the power To say so to my husband. |
VIRGILIA
(to Sicinius) You stay, too. I wish I had the power to say that to my husband. |
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SICINIUS
Are you mankind? |
SICINIUS
Are you a woman? |
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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? |
VOLUMNIA
You fool, are you trying to insult me? Listen, fool. Wasn’t my father a man? Are you so ungrateful that you’d banish the man who swung his sword for Rome more times than you’ve even opened your mouth to speak? |
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SICINIUS
O blessed heavens! |
SICINIUS
Oh, blessed heavens! |
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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. |
VOLUMNIA
He fought nobly for Rome more times than you’ve ever spoken wise words. I’ll tell you what: go! No, stay actually. I wish my son were in the lawless deserts of Arabia, with his sword in hand, and your people stood before him. |
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SICINIUS
What then? |
SICINIUS
What would happen then? |
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VIRGILIA
What then! He’ld make an end of thy posterity. |
VIRGILIA
What would happen? He’d kill you, and your family line would end. |
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VOLUMNIA
Bastards and all. Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome! |
VOLUMNIA
Your bastard children’s, too. He’s a good man, and he was wounded fighting for Rome! |
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MENENIUS
Come, come, peace. |
MENENIUS
Now, now, stay calm. |
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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. |
SICINIUS
I wish he had continued to honor his country the way he always did, rather than renounce his loyalty. |
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BRUTUS
I would he had. |
BRUTUS
I wish he had. |
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VOLUMNIA
“I would he had”! ’Twas 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. |
VOLUMNIA
“I wish he had”! It was you who incensed the commoners. Those people are like cats and no more able to judge his character than I am able to know the unknowable mysteries of heaven. |
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BRUTUS
Pray, let us go. |
BRUTUS
Please, 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 all. |
VOLUMNIA
Yes. Please, sir, do go away now. You’ve done enough. But before you go, hear this: as much as the capitol building stands taller than the lowest house in Rome, that’s how much my son, her husband, the man you banished, exceeds all of you. |
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BRUTUS
Well, well, we’ll leave you. |
BRUTUS
That’s enough. We’re leaving now. |
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SICINIUS
Why stay we to be baited With one that wants her wits? |
SICINIUS
Why would we stay to be harassed by someone who is so out of her mind? |
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VOLUMNIA
Take my prayers with you. |
VOLUMNIA
Take my prayers with you. |
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Exeunt Tribunes |
The tribunes exit. |
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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. |
I wish the gods had nothing else to do but carry out my curses! If I could just meet with them once a day, it would unclog the heavy weight from my heart. |
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MENENIUS
You have told them home; And, by my troth, you have cause. You’ll sup with me? |
MENENIUS
You’ve driven them away, and rightly so, I believe. Will you eat 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. |
VOLUMNIA
I’ll eat alone. Anger is my meat, but indulging my anger will also be the death of me. Come, let’s go. Do as I do: stop whining and being sad. Despite being angry, let’s behave like Juno. Come, come, come. |
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MENENIUS
Fie, fie, fie! |
MENENIUS
No, no, no! |
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Exeunt |
All exit. |