You have, I know, petition'd all the gods
For my prosperity.

[Kneels. Vol.

Nay, my good soldier, up;
My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and
By deed-achieving honour newly nam’d,
What is it? Coriolanus, must I call thee?
But 0, thy wife
Cor.

My gracious silence, hail !
Wouldst thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd home,
That weep'st to see me triunph? Ah, my dear,
Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear,
And mothers that lack sons.
Men.

Now the gods crown thee! Cor. And live you yet?-O my sweet lady, pardon.

[To Valeria. Vol. I know not where to turn :-0 welcome bome; And welcome, general ;—And you are welcome all.

Men. A hundred thousand welcoines: I could weep,
And I could laugh; I am light and heavy: Welcome:
A curse begin at very root of his heart,
That is not glad to see thee!-You are three,
That Rome should dote on: yet, by the faith of men,
We have some old crab-trees here at home, that will not
Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors:
We call a netile, but a nettle; and
The faults of fools, but folly.
Com.

Ever right.
Cor. Menenius, ever, ever.
Her. Give way there, and go on.
Cor.

Your hand, and yours :

[To his Wife and Mother.
Ere in our own house I do shade my head,
The good patricians must be visited;
Froin whom I have receiv'd not only greetings,
But with them change of honours.
Vol.

I have lived
To see inherited my very wishes,
And the buildings of my fancy: only there
Is one thing wanting, which I doubt not, but
Our Rome will cast upon thee.
Cor.

Know, good mother,

I had rather be their servant in my way,
Than sway with them in theirs.
Com.

On, to the Capitol.
[Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in State, as before.

The Tribunes remain. Bru. All tongues speak of him, and the bleared

sights
Are spectacled to see him: Your pratiling nurse
Into a rapture lets her baby cry,
While she chats him: the kitchen malkin pins
Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck,
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
Do press among the popular throngs, and puff
To win a vulgar station : 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.

On the sudden,
I warrant him consul.
Bru.

Then our office may,
During his power, go sleep.

Sic. He cannot temperately transport bis honours From where he should begin and end; 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. Bru.

I heard him swear, Were he to stand for consu), never would he Appear i'the market-place, nor on him put The napless vesture of humility;

с

Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds
To the people, beg their stinking breaths.
Sic.

'Tis right.
Bru. It was his word: 0, 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.
Bru.

'Tis most like, he will.
Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good wills;
A sure destruction.
Bru.

So it must fall out
To him, or our authorities. For an end,
We must suggest the people, in what hatred
He still hatli held them; that, to his power, 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
Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
For sinking under them.
Sic.

This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence Sha 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 flang their gloves, Ladies and maids their scarts and handkerchiefs, Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended, As to Jove's statue; and the commons made

A shower, and thunder, with their caps, and shouts :
I never saw the like.
Bru.

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

Hare 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 sland for consulships?

2 Off. Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every onc, 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 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, lets 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 barm; 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.

2 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 alí 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 Of. 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,
Then 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;