And sack great Rome with Romans.
(III. i. 314.)
And with this patriotism, partly as its result, he combines singular moderation, at least in principle and thought, if not in language. He is always ready to commend and accept compromises. He says to the tribune,
Be that you seem, truly your country’s friend,
And temperately proceed to what you would
Thus violently redress.
(III. i. 218.)
On the other hand, when Marcius draws he sees the mistake and interposes: “Down with that sword” (iii. i. 226); and only when the tribunes persist in their attack does he himself resort to force, which, however, he is glad to abandon at the first opportunity. And this moderation comes the more easily to him that he has a real kindliness even for the plebeians. It is assuredly no small compliment that at the very height of the popular violence this patrician and senator, the known and avowed friend of Coriolanus, should be chosen by the tribunes themselves as their own delegate:
Noble Menenius,
Be you then as the people’s officer.