Into a rapture 10) lets her baby cry, While she chats him; the kitchen malkin 1) pins Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd 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. 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. 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 Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world, Enter a Messenger. Bru. 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 My words dis-bench'd you not. The man I speak of cannot in the world I cannot speak him home: He stopp'd the fliers; That I may pass this doing. Put them not to't: — Do not stand upon't. We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, 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 Come, we'll inform them 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. : 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. - 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; - Look, sir; I got them in my country's service, when Some certain of your brethren roar'd, and ran Cor. 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. 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. - 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, you, Your most sweet voices: voices, - now you have left your Thus to have said, Be curses to yourselves? You should have said, Tying him to aught; so, putting him to rage, Bru. Did you perceive, He did solicit you in free contempt, 52) 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, Sic. 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, Sic. Cor. Ha! what is that? Bru. Go on: no further. Cor. Men. Pass no further. You show too much of that, For which the people stir: If you will pass way, Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit; 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! 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, By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; Well, no more. 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. Or all will fall in broil. Stop, It is a mind, |