Act IV, Scene ii:
Rome. A street near the gate.

[Enter SICINIUS, BRUTUS, and an AEDILE.]

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.

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.

[Exit AEDILE.]

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.

[Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and MENENIUS.]

VOLUMNIA:

O, you're well met: the hoarded plague o' the 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.—[To BRUTUS.]Will you be gone?

VIRGILIA:

You shall stay too[To SICINIUS.]: 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 thou foxship

To banish him that struck more blows for Rome

Than thou hast spoken words?—

SICINIUS:

O blessed heavens!

VOLUMNIA:

Moe 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.

SICINIUS:

What then?

VIRGILIA:

What then!

He'd make an end of thy posterity.

VOLUMNIA:

Bastards and all.—

Good man, the wounds that he does bear for Rome!

MENENIUS:

Come, come, peace.

SICINIUS:

I would he had continu'd 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! 'Twas you incens'd 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 us go.

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.

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.—

[Exeunt TRIBUNES.]

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.

[Exeunt.]

MENENIUS:

Fie, fie, fie!