Page 2865 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Your wife, your son, these Senators, the nobles; [65]
And you will rather show our general louts
How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon ’em
For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard

Of what that want might ruin.

MENENIUS
Noble lady!
− Come, go with us, speak fair. You may salve so, [70]
Not what is dangerous present, but the loss

Of what is past.

VOLUMNIA

I prithee now, my son,
Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand;
And thus far having stretched it − here be with them −
Thy knee bussing the stones − for in such business [75]

Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th’ignorant
More learnèd than the ears − waving thy head,
With often thus correcting thy stout heart,
Now humble as the ripest mulberry

That will not hold the handling, say to them [80]
Thou art their soldier, and being bred in broils
Hast not the soft way which, thou dost confess,
Were fit for thee to use as they to claim,

In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame
Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far [85]
As thou hast power and person.

MENENIUS
This but done

Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours.
For they have pardons, being asked, as free
As words to little purpose.

VOLUMNIA
Prithee now,
Go, and be ruled; although I know thou hadst rather [90]