C

We must suggest the people, in what hatred
He still hath held them; that, to his power, he would
Have made them mules, silenc'd their pleaders, and
Dispropertied their freedoms: holding them,
In human action and capacity,

Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world,
Than camels in their war; who have their provand2
Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
For sinking under them.

Sic.
This, as you say, suggested
At some time when his soaring insolence
Shall teach the people (which time shall not want,
If he be put upon't; and that's as easy,

As to set dogs on sheep,) will be his fire

To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze
Shall darken him for ever.

Bru.

Enter a Messenger.

What's the matter?

Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. Tis
thought,

That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen
The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind
To hear him speak: The matrons flung their gloves,
Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs,
Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended,
As to Jove's statue; and the commons made
A shower, and thunder, with their caps, and shouts :
I never saw the like.

Bru.

Let's to the Capitol; And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, But hearts for the event.

Sic.

Have with you. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The same. The Capitol. Enter two Officers, to lay cushions.

1 Off Come, come, they are almost here: How many stand for consulships?

2 Off Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every Coriolanus will carry it.

one,

1 Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and loves not the common people.

2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er lov'd them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground: Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him, manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see't.

1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love, or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good, nor harm; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

2 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country: And his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those, who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted,2 without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report: but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwise were a malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.

1 Off. No more of him; he is a worthy man : Make way, they are coming.

A sennet. Enter, with Lictors before them, Cominius, the Consul, Menenius, Coriolanus, many other Senators, Sicinius, and Brutus. The Sena

(1) Adversary.

(2) Took off caps.

tors take their places; the Tribunes take theirs also by themselves.

Men. Having determin'd of the Volces, and
To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,

As the main point of this our after-meeting,
To gratify his noble service, that

Hath thus stood for his country: Therefore, please you,

Most reverend and grave elders, to desire
The present consul, and last general
In our well-found successes, to report
A little of that worthy work perform'd
By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom

We meet here, both to thank, and to remember
With honours like himself.

1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Leave nothing out for length, and make us think, Rather our state's defective for requital,

Then we do stretch it out. Masters o'the people, We do request your kindest ears: and, after, Your loving motion toward the common body, To yield what passes here.

Sic.

We are convented Upon a pleasing treaty; and have hearts Inclinable to honour and advance

The theme of our assembly.

Bru.

Which the rather

We shall be bless'd to do, if he remember

A kinder value of the people, than

He hath hereto priz'd them at.

Men.

That's off, that's off,1

I would you rather had been silent: Please you To hear Cominius speak?

Bru.

Most willingly: But yet my caution was more pertinent, Than the rebuke you give it.

Men.

He loves your people;

But tie him not to be their bedfellow.

(1) Nothing to the purpose,

Worthy Cominius, speak.-Nay, keep your place. [Coriolanus rises, and offers to go away.

1 Sen. Sit, Coriolanus: never shame to hear have nobly done.

What you
Cor.

Your honours' pardon;

I had rather have my wounds to heal again,
Than hear say how I got them.

Bru.

My words disbench'd you not.
Cor.

Sir, I hope,

No, sir: yet oft, When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: But, your people,

I love them as they weigh.

Men.

Pray now, sit down. Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i'the

sun,

When the alarum were struck, than idly sit
To hear my nothings monster'd. [Exit Coriolanus.
Men.
Masters o'the people,
Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter
(That's thousand to one good one,) when you now

see,

He had rather venture all his limbs for honour,
Than one of his ears to hear it?-Proceed, Cominius.
Com. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus
Should not be utter'd feebly.-It is held,
That valour is the chiefest virtue, and
Most dignifies the haver:2 if it be,

The man I speak of cannot in the world
Be singly counterpois'd. At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought
Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,
Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,
When with his Amazonian chin3 he drove
The bristled lips before him: he bestrid
An o'er-press'd Roman, and i'the consul's view

(1) Summons to battle.
(3) Without a beard.

(2) Possessor. (4) Bearded.

Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met,
And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats,
When he might act the woman in the scene,I
He prov'd best man i'the field, and for his meed?
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age
Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea;
And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since,
He lurch'd3 all swords o'the garland. For this last,
Before and in Corioli, let me say,

I cannot speak him home: He stopp'd the fliers;
And, by his rare example, made the coward
Turn terror into sport: as waves before
A vessel under sail, so men obey'd,

And fell below his stem: his sword (death's stamp)
Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd
The mortal gate o'the city, which he painted
With shunless destiny, aidless came off,
And with a sudden reinforcement struck
Corioli, like a planet; now, all's his:
When by and by the din of war 'gan pierce
His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit
Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,6
And to the battle came he; where he did
Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if
'Twere a perpetual spoil: and, till we call'd
Both field and city ours, he never stood

To ease his breast with panting.

Men.

Worthy man! 1 Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honours Which we devise him.

Com. Our spoils he kick'd at; And look'd upon things precious, as they were The common muck o'the world: he covets less Than misery? itself would give; rewards

(1) Smooth-faced enough to act a woman's part,

(2) Reward.

(5) Followed.

(3) Won.
(6) Wearied.

(4) Stroke.

(7) Avarice.