Enter Volumnia.
I talk of you:
Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me
False to my nature? Rather say I play
The man I am.
Vol. O! sir, sir, sir, 16
I would have had you put your power well on
Before you had worn it out.
Cor. Let go.
Vol. You might have been enough the man you are
With striving less to be so: lesser had been 20
The thwartings of your dispositions if
You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd,
Ere they lack'd power to cross you.
Cor. Let them hang.
Vol. Ay, and burn too. 24
Enter Menenius with the Senators.
Men. Come, come; you have been too rough, something too rough;
You must return and mend it.
Sen. There's no remedy;
Unless, by not so doing, our good city
Cleave in the midst, and perish.
Vol. Pray be counsell'd. 28
I have a heart as little apt as yours,
But yet a brain that leads my use of anger
To better vantage.
Men. Well said, noble woman!
Before he should thus stoop to the herd, but that 32
The violent fit o' the time craves it as physic
For the whole state, I would put mine armour on,
18 Let go: No more of that
21 thwartings; cf. n.
28 Cleave . . . midst: break in two
29 as little apt: as unbending
32 but: except
