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Into a rapture 10) lets her baby cry,

While she chats him; the kitchen malkin 1) pins
Her richest lockram 12) 'bout her reechy neck, 13)
Clambering the walls to eye him; Stalls, bulks,
windows,

Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd
With variable complexions; all agreeing
In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens 1*)
Do press among the popular throngs, and puff
To win a vulgar station: 15) our veil'd dames
Commit the war of white and damask, in
Their nicely-gawded cheeks, to the wanton spoil
Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother,
As if that whatsoever god, who leads him,
Were slily crept into his human powers,
And gave him graceful posture.
Sic.

I warrant him consul. Bru.

On the sudden,

Then our office may,

During his power, go sleep.

Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honours From where he should begin, and end; 6) but will Lose those that he hath won. Bru. In that there's comfort. Sic. Doubt not, the commoners, for whom we stand, But they, upon their ancient malice, will Forget, with the least cause, these his new honours; Which that he'll give them, make as little question As he is proud to do't. '7) Bru. I heard him swear, Were he to stand for consul, never would he Appear i'the market-place, nor on him put The napless 18) vesture of humility; Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds To the people, beg their stinking breaths. Sic.

"Tis right. Bru. It was his word: O, he would miss it, rather Than carry it, but by the suit o'the gentry to him, And the desire of the nobles.

Sic. I wish no better, Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it In execution.

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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 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 flattered 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 24) 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. 25) 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 26) who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted, 27) without any further deed to heave 26) them at all into their estimation and report: but he hath so planted his honours in their

Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good wills; 19) eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their A sure destruction.

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To him, or our authorities. For an end,

We must suggest the people, 20) in what hatred He still hath held them; that, to his power, 21) 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 provand 22)
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.

Enter a Messenger.

Bru.
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 23) and handkerchiefs,
Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended,

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 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,
Than we to stretch it out. 29) Masters o'the people,
We do request your kindest ears; and, after,

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My words dis-bench'd you not.
Cor.
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, 32)
(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: if it be,

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The man I speak of cannot in the world
Be singly counterpois'd. At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for Rome, 33) he fought
Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,
Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,
When with his Amazonian chin 34) he drove
The bristled lips before him: he bestrid
An o'er-press'd Roman, and i'the consul's view
Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met,
And struck him on his knee: 35) in that day's feats,
When he might act the woman in the scene, 36)
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'd all swords o'the garland. 37) 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 38)
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: 39) alone he enter'd
The mortal gate 40) o'the city, which he painted
With shunless destiny, aidless came off,
And with a sudden re-enforcement struck
Corioli, like a planet: Now all's his:

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That I may pass this doing.
Sic.
Sir, the people
Must have their voices; neither will they bate
One jot of ceremony.
Men.

Put them not to't: —
Pray you, go fit you to the custom; and
Take to you, as your predecessors have,
Your honour with your form. **)
Cor.
It is a part
That I shall blush in acting, and might well
Be taken from the people.
Bru.
Mark you that?
Cor. To brag unto them, — Thus I did, and thus; —
Show them the unaking scars which I should hide,
As if I had receiv'd them for the hire
Of their breath only:
Men.

Do not stand upon't.

We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,
Our purpose to them; +5) and to our noble consul
Wish we all joy and honour.

Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!

[Flourish. Then exeunt Senators. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people. Sic. May they perceive his intent! He will require them,

As if he did contemn what he requested
Should be in them to give.
Bru.

Come, we'll inform them
Of our proceedings here: on the market-place,
I know, they do attend us.

SCENE III.

The same. The Forum.

Enter several Citizens.

[Exeunt.

1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voice, we ought not to deny him.

2 Cit. We may, sir, if we will.

3 Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do; for if he show us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds, and speak for them; so, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous: and for the multitude to be ingrateful, were to make a monster of the multitude; of the which, we being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members.

1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve: for once, when we stood up 46) about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.

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3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured and truly I think, if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all points o'the compass. 2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge, my wit would fly?

3 Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will, 'tis strongly wedged up in a blockhead: but if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, southward.

2 Cit. Why that way?

3 Cit. To lose itself in a fog; where being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife.

2 Cit. Your are never without your tricks : may, you may.

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You

3 Cit. Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man.

Enter CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility; mark his behaviour. We are not to stay altogether, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He's to make his requests by particulars: wherein every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues: therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him. All, Content, content.

[Exeunt. Men. O sir, you are not right: have you not known The worthiest men have done't? Cor. I pray, sir,

What must I say? Plague upon't! I cannot bring

My tongue to such a pace:

my wounds;

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Look, sir;

I got them in my country's service, when

Some certain of your brethren roar'd, and ran
From the noise of our own drums.
Men.
O me, the gods!
You must not speak of that; you must desire them
To think upon you.

Cor.
Think upon me? Hang 'em!
I would they would forget me, like the virtues
Which our divines lose by them. 47)
Men.
You'll mar all;
I'll leave you: Pray you, speak to them, I pray you,
In wholesome manner.
[Exit.

Enter two Citizens.

Cor. Bid them wash their faces, And keep their teeth clean. So, here comes a brace. You know the cause, sir, of my standing here. 1 Cit. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.

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How! not your own desire?

"Twas never my desire yet, To trouble the poor with begging. 1 Cit. You must think, if we give you any thing, We hope to gain by you.

Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o'the consulship? 1 Cit. The price is, sir, to ask it kindly. Cor.

Kindly! Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to show you, Which shall be yours in private. Your good voice, sir: What say you? 2 Cit.

You shall have it, worthy sir.

Cor. A match, sir: There is in all two worthy voices begg'd: I have your alms; adieu. 1 Cit. But this is something odd. 2 Cit. An 'twere to give again,- But 'tis no matter. [Exeunt two Citizens.

Enter two other Citizens.

Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices, that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown.

3 Cit. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly. Cor. Your enigma?

3 Cit. You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have been a rod to her friends; you have not, indeed, loved the common people.

Cor. You should account me the more virtuous, that I have not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle and since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod, and be off to them most counterfeitly: that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man, and give it bountifully to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.

4 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices heartily.

3 Cit. You have received many wounds for your country.

Cor. I will not seal your knowledge 48) with showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.

Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

Cor. Most sweet voices!

Better it is to die, better to starve,

[Exeunt.

Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.
Why in this wolvish gown should I stand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,
Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to't:
What custom wills, in all things should we do't,
The dust on antique time would lie unswept,
And mountainous error be too highly heap'd
For truth to over-peer, Rather than fool it so,
Let the high office and the honour go
To one that would do thus. I am half through;
The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.
Enter three other Citizens.
Here come more voices,
Your voices for your voices I have fought;
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices, bear

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1 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us. 2 Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says, He us'd us scornfully: he should have show'd us His marks of merit, wounds received for his country. Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure. Cit.

No; no man saw 'em. [Several speak. 3 Cit. He said, he had wounds, which he could show in private;

And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be consul, says he: aged custom,
But by your voices, will not so permit me;
Your voices therefore: When we granted that,
Here was,
I thank you for your voices, — thank

you, Your most sweet voices:

voices,

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now you have left your

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Thus to have said,

Be curses to yourselves? You should have said,
That, as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he stood for; so his gracious nature
Would think upon you 51) for your voices, and
Translate his malice towards you into love,
Standing your friendly lord.
Sic.
As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit,
And try'd his inclination; from him pluck'd
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had call'd you up, have held him to;
Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,
Which easily endures not article

Tying him to aught; so, putting him to rage,
You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.

Bru.

Did you perceive,

He did solicit you in free contempt, 52)
When he did need your loves; and do you think,
That his contempt shall not be bruising to you,
When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies
No heart among you? Or had you tongues, to cry
Against the rectorship of judgment?
Sic.
Have you,
Ere now, deny'd the asker? and, now again,
On him, that did not ask, but mock, bestow
Your su'd-for tongues?

3 Cit. He's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet. 2 Cit. And will deny him:

I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.

1 Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru. Get you hence instantly; and tell those friends — They have chose a consul, that will from them take Their liberties; make them of no more voice Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking, As therefore kept to do so. Sic. Let them assemble; And, on a safer judgment, all revoke Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride. 53) And his old hate unto you: Besides, forget not With what contempt he wore the humble weed: How in his suit he scorn'd you: but your loves, Thinking upon his services, took from you The apprehension of his present portance, 54) Which gibingly, 55) ungravely, he did fashion After the inveterate hate he bears you. Bru. Lay

A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd (No impediment between) but that you must Cast your election on him.

Sic. Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided By your own true affections: and that, your minds Pre-occupy'd with what you rather must do Than what you should, made you against the grain To voice him consul: Lay the fault on us.

Bru. Ay, spare us not. Say, we read lectures to you,
How youngly he began to serve his country,
How long continued: and what stock he springs of,
The noble house o'the Marcians; from whence came
That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,
Who, after great Hostilius, here was king:
Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,
That our best water brought by conduits hither;
And Censorinus, darling of the people,
And nobly nam'd so, being censor twice, 56)
Was his great ancestor.

Sic.
One thus descended,
That hath beside well in his person wrought
To be set high in place, we did commend
To your remembrances: but you have found,
Scaling his present bearing with his past, 57)

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Cor. I wish I had a cause to seek him there, To oppose his hatred fully. - Welcome home. [TO LARTIUS.

Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.

Behold! these are the tribunes of the people,
The tongues o'the common mouth. I do despise them;
For they do prank them in authority, 2)
Against all noble sufferance.

Sic.

Cor. Ha! what is that? Bru.

Go on: no further.

Cor.

Men.

Pass no further.

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You show too much of that,

For which the people stir: If you will pass
To where you are bound, you must inquire your

way,

Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit;
Or never be so noble as a consul,
Nor yoke with him for tribune.
Men.

Let's be calm. This

Com. The people are abus'd: Set on. palt'ring

Becomes not Rome; 3) nor has Coriolanus Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely 4) I'the plain way of his merit.

Cor.

Tell me of corn!

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1 Sen. Cor. Now, as I live, I will. I crave their pardons: For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them Regard me as I do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves: 5) I say again,
In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, ") insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd and
scatter'd,

By mingling them with us, the honour'd number;
Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that
Which they have given to beggars.
Men.

Well, no more.

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As for my country I have shed my blood, Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs It will be dangerous to Coin words till their decay, against those meazels, 1) Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought The very way to catch them. Bru.

What makes this change?

The matter? Com. Hath he not pass'd the nobles, and the commons? Bru. Cominius, no. Cor.

Have I had children's voices?

1 Sen. Tribunes, give way; he shall to the marketplace.

Bru. The people are incens'd against him.
Sic.

Or all will fall in broil.

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Stop,

It is a mind,

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