At some time when his soaring insolence
Shall touch 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

Bru.

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

Enter a Messenger.

What's the matter?

280

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: matrons flung
gloves,

Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchers,
Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended, 290
As to Jove's statue, and the commons made
A shower and thunder with their caps and
shouts :

I never saw the like.

Bru.

Sic.

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

Have with you. [Exeunt.

280. "touch," Hanmer's emendation; Ff., "teach"; Theobald, "reach."-I. G.

288-289. "matrons flung gloves," etc.; here we have another anachronism; the Romans being represented as doing what, in the days of chivalry, was done at tiltings and tournaments in honor of the successful combatant.-H. N. H.

SCENE II

The same. The Capitol..

Enter two Officers, to lay cushions.

First Off. Come, come, they are almost here.
How many stand for consulships?

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

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

Sec. Off. Faith, there have been many great

men that have flattered the people, who ne'er
loved them; and there be many that they 10
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.

First Off. If he did not care whether he had
their love or no, he waved indifferently
'twixt doing them neither good nor harm: 20
but he seeks their hate with greater devotion
than they can render it him, and leaves noth-
ing undone that may fully discover him their
opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice
and displeasure of the people is as bad as
23. “discover"; prove.-C. H. H.

that which he dislikes, to flatter them for
their love.
Sec. Off. He hath deserved worthily of his

country: and his ascent is not by such easy
degrees as those who, having been supple 30
and courteous to the people, bonneted, with-
out any further deed to have them at all into
their estimation and report: but he hath so
planted his honors 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 other-
wise were a malice that, giving itself the lie,
would pluck reproof and rebuke from every
ear that heard it.

First Off. No more of him; he's a worthy man:
make way, they are coming.

40

A sennet. Enter, with Lictors before them, Cominius the Consul, Menenius, Coriolanus, Senators, Sicinius and Brutus. The Senators take their places; the Tribunes take their places by themselves. Coriolanus stands.

Men. Having determined of the Volsces and
To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,

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

31. "bonneted" is commonly explained as meaning to take off the cap or bonnet in token of humility. Knight, however, thinks, and with apparent justice, that the context requires the opposite meaning, thus: "His ascent is not by such easy degrees as theirs who, using the arts of popularity, put on the cap of office and patrician dignity, without doing any thing further to earn it."-H. N. H.

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 met here, both to thank and to remember
With honors like himself.

First Sen.

Sic.

50

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. [To the Tribunes]
Masters o' the people,

We do request your kindest ears, and after,
Your loving motion toward the common body,
To yield what passes
here.

We are convented

Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts
Inclinable to honor and advance

Bru.

The theme of our assembly.

Which the rather

We shall be bless'd to do, if he remember
A kinder value of the people than

He hath hereto prized them at.

Men.

60

That's off, that 's off; 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; 70

But tie him not to be their bedfellow. Worthy Cominius, speak. [Coriolanus offers to go away.] Nay, keep your place. First Sen. Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear What you have nobly done.

Cor.

Your honors' pardon:
I had rather have my wounds to heal again,
Than hear say how I got them.

Bru.

Cor.

Sir, I hope

No, sir: yet oft,

My words disbench'd you not.

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.

80

Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i̇' the

sun

When the alarum were struck than idly sit
To hear my nothings monster'd.

Men.

[Exit.

Masters of the people, Your multiplying spawn how can he flatterThat's thousand to one good one-when you

now see

He had rather venture all his limbs for honor Than one on 's ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius.

Com. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus Should not be utter'd feebly. It is held

89-91. "It is held that valor," etc.; this thought was evidently