Cor. How! no more!
As for my country I have shed my blood,
Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs 76
Coin words till their decay against those measles,
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought
The very way to catch them.
Bru. You speak o' the people,
As if you were a god to punish, not 80
A man of their infirmity.
Sic. 'Twere well
We let the people know 't.
Men. What, what? his choler?
Cor. Choler!
Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, 84
By Jove, 'twould be my mind!
Sic. It is a mind
That shall remain a poison where it is,
Not poison any further.
Cor. Shall remain!
Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark you 88
His absolute 'Shall'?
Com. 'Twas from the canon.
Cor. 'Shall!'
O good but most unwise patricians! why,
You grave but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choose an officer, 92
That with his peremptory 'shall,' being but
The horn and noise o' the monster's, wants not spirit
To say he'll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If he have power, 96
77 measles: disease spots
78 tetter: form an eruption on
85 mind: resolved opinion
88 Triton: sea-god
89 from the canon: not authorized by law
92 Given: allowed
Hydra: the many-headed monster
94 horn and noise: noisy horn
