What’s in his heart; and that is there which looks
To break his neck.
(III. iii. 25.)
The suggestion for these proceedings comes, as we saw, from Plutarch; but in this one respect his tribunes are by no means so wily. They contrive a dilemma in which Coriolanus will have either to humble or to compromise himself; but though they would prefer the latter alternative, they do nothing to bring it about.
Yet with all their activity in the matter, they are meanly desirous of evading responsibility and saving their own skins.
Brutus.Lay
A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour’d,
No impediment between, but that you must
Cast your election on him.
Sicinius.Say you chose him