Bru. Enter a Messenger. What's the matter? Mes. 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 Bru. Let's to the Capitol; And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, 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 one, Coriolanus will carry it. every 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 loved 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, let's 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. 1 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, 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 Senators take their places; the Tribunes take theirs also by themselves. Men. Having determin'd of the Volces, and Hath thus stood for his country: Therefore, please you, Most reverend and grave elders, to desire We meet here, both to thank, and to remember 1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Leave nothing out for length; and make us think, Rather our state's defective for requital, Than we to 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; I would you rather had been silent: Please you Bru. Most willingly: But yet my caution was more pertinent, Men. He loves your people; But tie him not to be their bedfellow. Worthy Cominius, speak.-Nay, keep your place. [Coriolanus rises, and offers to go away. 1 Sen. Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear What you have nobly done. Cor. Your honours' pardon; I had rather have my wounds to heal again, Than hear say how I got them. Bru. My words dis-bench'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. Men. [Exit Coriolanus. 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 The man I speak of cannot in the world And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since, 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) E |