As if that whatsoever god, who leads him,
Were flily crept into his human powers,
And gave him graceful pofture.

Sic. On the fudden,

I warrant him conful.

Bru. Then our office may, During his power, go fleep.

Sic. He cannot temperately tranfport his honours From where he should begin, and end; but will Lofe thofe he hath won.

Bru. In that there's comfort.

Sic. Doubt not,

The commoners, for whom we ftand, but they, Upon their ancient malice, will forget,

With the leaft caufe, these his new honours; which That he will give them, make I as little question As he is proud to do't

Bru. I heard him fwear,

Were he to ftand for conful, never would he
Appear i' the market-place, nor on him put
The napless vefture of humility;

Nor fhewing (as the manner is) his wounds
To the people, beg their ftinking breaths.
Sic. 'Tis right.

Bru. It was his word: O, he would miss it, rather Than carry it, but by the fuit o' the gentry to him, And the defire of the nobles.

Sic. I with no better,

Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it In execution.

Bru. 'Tis moft like, he will.

Sic. It fhall be to him then, as our good will's, A fure deftruction.

Bru. So it must fall out

To

To him, or our authorities. For an end,

We must fuggeft the people, in what hatred
He ftill hath held them; that, to his power, he
would

Have made them mules, filenc'd their pleaders, and
Difproperty'd their freedoms: holding them,
In human action and capacity,

Of no more foul, nor fitnefs for the world,
Than camels in their war; who have their provand
Only for bearing burdens, and fore blows
For finking under them.

Sic. This, as you fay, fuggefted

At fome time when his foaring infolence
Shall reach the people (which time fhall not want,
If he be put upon't; and that's as easy,
As to fet dogs on fheep), will be the fire
To kindle their dry ftubble; and their blaze
Shall darken him for ever.

Enter a Messenger.

Bru. What's the matter?

Mel. You arefent for to the Capitol. Tisthought, That Marcius fhall be conful: I have feen The dumb men throng to fee him, and the blind To hear him fpeak: Matrons flung gloves, Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs, Upon him as he pafs'd: the nobles bended, As to Jove's statue; and the commons made A shower, and thunder, with their caps, and fhouts: I never faw 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

SCENE II. The Capitol

Enter two Officers, to lay Cushions.

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

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

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 lov❜d, they know not wherefore: fo 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, manifefts the true knowledge he has in their difpofition; and, out of his noble careleffnefs, lets them plainly fee't.

1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love, or no, he wav'd 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 oppofite. Now, to feem to affect the malice and difpleafure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

2 Off. He hath deferved worthily of his country: And his ascent not by fuch easy degrees as thofe, who have been fupple and courteous to the people; bonnetted, without any further deed to heave them at all into their estimation and report: but he hath fo planted his honours in their eyes,

and

and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be filent, and not confefs fo much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwife, were a malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.

10ff. No more of him; he's a worthy man: Make way-they are coming.

A Sennet.

Enter the Patricians, and the Tribunes of the People, Lictors before them; CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS the Conful: SICINIUS and BRUTUS, as Tribunes, take their Places by themfelves.

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

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

Hath thus ftood for his country: Therefore, please
Moft reverend and grave elders, to defire [you,
The prefent conful, and laft general

In our well-found fucceffes, 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 ftate's defective for requital,

Than we to ftretch it out.-Masters o' the people,
We do request your kindest ear; and, after,
Your loving motion toward the common body,
'To yield what paffes here.

Sic. We are convented

Upon

Upon a pleafing treaty; and have hearts
Inclinable to honour and advance
The theme of our affembly.

Bru. Which the rather

We fhall be bleft 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 filent: Please you To hear Cominius speak?

Bru. Moft 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 bed-fellow.Worthy Cominius, fpeak.-Nay, keep your place. [CORIOLANUS rifes, and offers to go away.

I Sen. Sit, Coriolanus; never fhame to hear What you have nobly done.

Gor. Your honours' pardon;

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

Bru. Sir, I hope,

My words difbench'd you not?

Cor. No, fir: yet oft,

When blows have made me ftay, I fled from words. You footh'd not, therefore hurt not: But, your

I love them as they weigh.

Men. Pray now, fit down.

[people,

Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i'

the fun,

When the alarum were firuck, than idly fit

To hear my nothings monster'd.

Men. Mafters o' the people,

[Exit COR.

Your