a Sic. On the sndden, 108. That's a brave fellow ; but he's vengeance I warrant him consul. proud, and loves pot the common people. Bru. Then our office may, 2011. Faith, there have been many great men that During his power, go sleep. have flattered the people, who ne'er loved them; and Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honours there be many that they have loved, they know not From where he should begin, and end ; but will wherefore : so that, if they love they know not why, Lose those that he hath won. they hate upon po bettera ground: Therefore, for Com Bru. In that there's comfort. riolanus neither to care whether they love or hate Sic. Doubt not, him, manifests the true knowledge he has in their dis The commoners, for whom we stand, but they, position; and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them Upon their ancient malice, will forget, plainly set'l. With the least cause, these his new honours; 101. If he did not care whether he had their love, Which that lie'll give them, make as little question or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither As lie is proud to do't. good, nor barm; but he secks their hate with greater Bru. I hcard him swear devotion than they can render it him; and leaves Were he to stand for consul, never would he nothing undone, that may fully discover him their Appear i'the market-piace, nor on him put opposite. Now, to seem to afite: the malice and disThe napless vesture of humility : pleasure of the propie, is as bad as that which he dir Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wannds likes, to flatter them for their love. To the people, beg their stinking breaths. 2011. Ile hath deserved worthily of his country: Sic. 'Tis right. And his asa-nt is not by such easy degrexes as those, Bru. It was his word: 0, he would miss it, rather who, baving been supple and courteous to the people, Than carry it, but by the suit o’the geutry to hiin, bonnetted, without any further deed to heave them at And the desire of the nobles. all into their estimation and report: but he hath so Sic. I wish no better, planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and a In execution. confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to Bru. "Tis most like; he will. report otherwise, were a matice, that, giving itself the Sic. It s! : Il be to him then, as our good wills; lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear A sure destruction. that heard it. Bru. So it must fall out 1001. No more of him ; he is a worthy man: Make To him, or our authorities. For an end, way, they are coming. We must suggest the people, in wliat hatred He still hath leld them; that, to his power, he would A Sennet. Enter, rváth Lidors before them, Caminius Have made them mules, silenc'd their pleaders, and the Consul, Menenius, Coriolanus, many other Semin Dispropertied their freedoins : holding them, tors, Sicinius and Brutus, "The Senators take their In hunan action and capacity, places ; the Tribuncs take theirs also by themselves. Of no more soul, nor titness for the world, Men. Having determind of the Volces, and As the main point of this our after-meeting, To gratify his noble service, that Hath thus stool for luis country: Therefore, please you, At some time when his soaring insolence Most reverend and grave elders, to desire Shall teach the people. (ulrich time shall not want, The present consul, and last general If he be put upon't; and that's as easy, In our well-found successes, to report As to set dogs on sheep.) will be bis fire A little of that worthy work perforin'd To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze By Caius Marcius Coriolanus ; whom We meet here, both to thank, and to remember With honours like himself. 1 Sen, Speak, good Cominjus: Mes. You are sent for to the capitol. 'Tis thought, 'Leave nothing out for length, and make us thinkis 'That Marcius shall be consul. I have seen Rather our state's defective for requital, To yield what passes here. Sic. We are convented Inclinable to honour and advance The theme of our assembly. Bru'. Which the rather But hearts for the crent. We shall be bless'd to do, if he remember Sir. Have with you. [Excunt. A kinder value of the people, than He hath hcreto priz'd them at. SCENE 11.--The same. The Capitol. Enter two Men. That's off, that's off; Oficers, to lay cushions. I would you rather liad been silent : Please you 10ff. Come, come, they are almost here: How ma- To hear Cominius speak? ny stand for consulships ? Bru. Most willingly: 204. Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every But yet my caution was more pertinent, ane, Coriolanus will carry it. Than the rebuke you give it. Bru. Bru. Men He loves your people; And lookd upon things precious, as they were But tie him not to be their bedfellow. The common muck o'the world: he covets less Worthy Cominius, speak, -Nay keep your place. Than misery itself would give; rewards [Coriolanus rises, and offers to go away. His deeds with doing them: and is content 1 Sen. Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear To spend the time, to end it. What you have nobly done. Men. He's right noble; Let him be call'd for. 1 Sen. Call for Coriolanus. Than hear say how I got them. off. He doth appear. Re-enter Coriolanus. No, sir : yet oft, Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd To make thee eonsul. When blows have made me stay, I fed from words. Cor. I do owe them still My life, and services. Men. It then remains, That you do speak to the people. I do beseech you, sun, When the alarum were struck, than idly sit Let me o'erleap that custom ; for I cannot To hear my nothings monster'd. [E.rit Cor. Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them, Men. Masters o'the people, || For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: plense Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, you, (That's thousand to one good one.) when you now see, That I may pass this doing. Sic. He bad rather venture all his limbs for honour, Sir, the people Thao one of his ears to bear it ?-Proceed, Cominius. Must have their voices ; neither will they bate Ceni. I shall lack voice : the deeds of Coriolanus One jot of ceremony. Men. Should not be utter'd feebly.-It is held, Put them not to't.That valour is the chiefest virtue, and Pray you, go fit you to the custom ; and Most dignifies the haver: if it be, Take to you, as your predecessors have, The man I speak of cannot in the world Your honour with your form. Cor. Be singly counterpoisid. At sixteen years, It is a part When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought That I shall blush in acting, and might well Beyond the mark of others : our then dictator, Be taken from the people. Bru. Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight, Mark you that? When with his Amazonian chin he drove Cor. To brag unto them,-Thus I did, and thus ;The bristled lips before bim: he bestrid Show them the unaching scars, which I should bide, As if I had receiv'd them for the hire of their breath only :And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats, Men. Do not stand upon't. When he might act the woman in the scene, -We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, He prov'd best man i'the field, and for his meed Our purpose to them ;-and to our poble consul Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age Wish we all joy and honour. Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea ; Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour ! And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since, [Plourish. Then exeunt Senators. He lurchd all swords o‘the garland. For this last, Bru. You see how he intends to use the people. Before and in Corioli, let me say, Sic. May they perceive his intent! He that will reI cannot speak him home : He stopp'd the fliers; quire them, As if he did contemn what he requested Should be in them to give. Bru. Come, we'll inform them And fell below his stem : his sword (death's stamp) Of our proceedings here : on the market-place, Where it did mark, it took ; from face to foot I know, they do attend us. [Exeunt. He was a thing of blood, whose every motion Was tim d with dying cries : alone he enterd SCENE III.-The same. The Forum. Enter seve ral citizens. The mortal gate o'the city, which he painted With shunless destiny, aidless came off, 1 Cit. Once, if he do require Gr voices, we ought And with a sudden re-inforcement struek not to deny him. Corioli, like a planet : Now all's his : 3 Cit. We may, sir, if we will. When by and by the din of war 'gan pierce 3 Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is His ready sense : then straight his doubled spirit a power that we have no power to do: for if he show Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate, us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put oor And to the battle came he; where he did tongues into those wounds, and speak for them ; so, if Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our "Twere a perpetual spoil : and, till we called noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous : Both field and eity ours, he never stood and for the multitude to be ingrateful, were to make To ease his breast with panting. a monster of the mulutude ; of the which, we being Men. Worthy man! members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous i Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honours members. Which we devise him. 1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little Our spoits he kjoki'd at; help will serve : for once, when we stood up abou? a Corn. de corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many- What say you? headed mulutude. 2 Cit. You shall have it, worthy sir. 3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that Cor. A mateh, sir :our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, There is in all two worthy voices begg'd ;some bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured : I have your alms; adieu. and truly I think, if all our wits were to issue out of i Cit. But this is something old. one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south; and 2 Cit. An 'twere to give again.-But 'tis no matter. their consent of one direct way should be at once to [Exeunt two Citizen.. all the points of the compass. Enter two other Citizens. 2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge, my Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of wit would fly? your voices, that I may be consul, I have liere te cus 3 Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another tomary gown. man's will, 'tis strongly wedgd up in a block-head: 3 Cit. You have deserved nobly of your country, and but if it were at liberty, 'uwould, sure, southward. you have not deserved nobly. 2 Cit. Why that way? Cor. Your enigma? 3 Cit. To lose itself in a fog; wbere, being three 3 Cit. You have been a scourge to her enemies, you parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would have been a rod to her friends; you have not, inledd, return for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife. loved the common people. 2 Cit. You are never without your tricks :- You Cor. You should account me the more virtuous, that may, you may I have not been common in my love. I will, sir, fatter 3 Cit. Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, my sworn brother the people, to earn a dearer estirsa if he would incline to the people, there was never a tion of them ; 'tis a condition they account gentle: and since the wisdom of their choice, is rather to have my worthier man. hat than my heart, I will practise the insinuating node Enter Coriolanus and Menenius. and be off to them most counterfeity; that is, sit, I Here he comes, and in the gown of humility; mark will counterfeit the bewitchment of sonue popular his behaviour. We are not to stay all together, but to man, and give it bountifully to the desirers. There come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and fore, beseech you, I may be consul. by threes. He's to make his requests by particulars : 4 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; and there wherein every one of us has a single honour, in giving | fore give you our voices heartily. hiin our own voices with our own tongues : therefore, 3 Cir. You have received many wounds for your follow ine, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him. country. All. Content, content. [Excunt. Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with showing Men. O, sir, you are not right: have you not known them. I will make much of your voices, and so trolThe worthiest men have done it? ble you no further. Cor. What must I say?- Both Citizens. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily! I pray, sir,- Plague upon't! I cannot bring [Exeunt. My tongue to such a pace :-Look, sir;-my wounds; Cor. Most sweet voices ! I got them in my country's service, when Better it is to die, better tu starve, Some certain of your brethren roard, and ran Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. From the noise of our own drums. Wlay in this woolvish gown should I stand here, Men. O me, the gods! To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear, You must not speak of that; you must desire them Their needless vouches? Custom calls nie tot: To think upon you. What custoin wills, in all things should we do't, Cor. Think upon me? Hang 'em! The dust on antique time would lie unswept, I would they would forget me, like the virtues And mountainous error be too highly heap'd Which our divines lose by them. For truth to over-peer.-Rather than fool it so, Men. You'll mar all; Let the high office and the honour go I'll leave you : Pray you, speak to them, I pray you, To one that would do thus.-I am half througts; In wholesome manner. [Exit. 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 1 Cit. We do, sir; Kell us what hath brought you to't. Cor. Mine own desert. Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six 2 Cit. Your own desert ? I have seen, and heard of; for your voices, have Cor. Done many things, some less, some more: your voices: Ay, not Mine own desire. Indeed, I would be consul. 1 Cir. without How! not yonr own desire ? 5 Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go Cor. No, sir: 'Twas never my desire yet, any honest man's voice. To trouble the poor with begging. 6 Cit. Tberefore let him be consul: The gods give 1 Cit. You must think, if we give you any thing, we him joy, and make him good friend to the people! kope to gain by you. All. Amen, amen.Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o'the consulship? God save thee, noble consul! Cor. 1 Cit. The price is, sir, to ask it kindly. Worthy voices! Cor. Kindly? Reenter Menenius, with Brutus, and Sicinius. Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to show youl, Men. You have stood your limitation; and the tri Which shall be yours in private.-Your good voice, sir; bunes a 1 (E.reunt Citizens 601 Endue you with the people's voice : Remains Tying him to aught; so, putting bim to rage, You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler, And pass'd him unelected. Bru. Did you perceive, That his contempt shall not be bruising to you, When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies There, Coriolanus. No heart among you ? Or had you tonges, to cry Against the rectorship of judgement ? You may, sir. Sic. Have you, On him, that did not ask, but mock, bestow Your sued-for tongues? 2 Cit. And will deny him : Fare you well. I'll have five hundred voices of that sound. [E.reunt Coriolanus and Menenius. 1 Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to -He has it now; and, by his looks, methinks, piece 'em. Tis warm at his heart. Bru. Get you hence instantly; and tell those friends, With a proud heart he wore They have chose a consul, that will from them take Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking, As therefore kept to do so. Sic. Let them assemble; 2 Cit. Amen, sir: To my poor unworthy notice, Your ignorant election : Enforce his pride, And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not 3 Cit. Certainly, he flouted us down-right. With what contempt he wore the humble weed; How in his suit he scorn'd you : but your loves, After the inveterate bate le bears you. No; no man saw 'em. Lay Cast your election on bim. And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, Sic Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided By your own true affections: and that, your minds Pre-occupied 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, bere 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, Was his great ancestor. One thus descended, That hath beside well in his person wrought To be set high in place, we did commend To your reinembrances: but you have found, Sealing his present bearing with his past, That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke Your sudden approbation. Say, you ne'er bad done't, Thus to have said, (Harp on that still.) but by our putting on: As you were fore advis'd, had tonch'd his spirit, And presently, when you have drawn your number, Repair to the capitol. We will so: almost all [Several speak. Repent in their election. [Exeunt Citizens. As cause hand call yon up, have held him to; Bru. Let them go on; This mutiny were better put in luzard, Than stay, past doubt, for greater : Men. Be calm, be alto. If, as his nature is, he fall in rage Cor. It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot, With their refusal, both observe and answer To curb the will of the nobility:- Suffer it, and live with such as cannot rule, Nor ever will be rul'd. Call't not a plot : And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, The people cry, you mock'd them; and of late, Which we have goaded onward. (Exeunt. When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd; Seandal'd the suppliants for the people; call them Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. Cor. Why, this was known before. Not to them all. SCENE 1.-The same. A Street. Cornets. Enter Cor. Have you inform'd them since? Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius, Titus Lartius, Sen- Brula How ! I inform them! ators, and Patricians. Cor. You are like to do such business. Not unlike, Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me Our swifter composition. Your fellow tribune. Cor. So then the Volces stand but as at first; Sic. You show too much of that, Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road For which the people stir: If you will pass Upon us again. To where you are bound, you must inquire your way, Com. They are worn, lord consul, so, Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit ; That we shall hardly in our ages see Or never be so noble as a consul, Nor yoke with him for tribune. Let's be calm. tering Yielded the town: he is retird to Antiun. Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus Deserv'd this so dishonourd rub, laid falsely l' the plain way of his merit. Tell me of corn! Lart. How often he bad met you, sword to sword: This was my speech, and I will speak't again ;That, of all things upon the earth, he hated Men. Not now, not now. Your person most: that he would pawn his fortunes 1 Sen. Not in this heat, sir, now, To hopeless restitution, so he might Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My nobler friends, Be call'd your vanquisher. I crave their pardons :Cor. At Antium lives he? For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them Lart. At Antium. Regard me as I do not flatter, and Cor. I wish I had a cause to seek him there, Therein bebold themselves : I say again, To oppose his hatred fully.-Welcome home. In soothing them, we nourish ‘gainst our senate [T. Lartius. | The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition, Enter Sicinius and Brutus. Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sowd and Behold! these are the tribunes of the people, scatter'd, The tongues o‘the common mouth. I do despise them By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; For they do prank them in authority, Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that Which they have given to beggars. Well, no mons Cor. Ha! what is that? 1 Sen. No more words, we beseech you. How! no more? Go on: no further. As for my country I have shed my blood, Cor. What makes this change? Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs Men. The matter? Coin words till their decay, against those meazels , Com. Hath he not pass d the nobles, and the com Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought mons ? The very way to catch them. Brui. Cominius, no. You speak o'the people, Cor. Have I had children's voices? As if you were a god to punish, not 1 Sen. Tribunes, give way; he shall to the market- A man of their infirmity. place. Sic. 'Twere well, we let the people know it. Bru. The people are incens'd against him. Men. What, what? his choler Sic. Cor. Choler! Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, By Jove, 'twould be my mind. Sie, It is a mind, And straight disclaim their tongues ?- What are your That shall remain a poison where it is, offices? Not poison any further. You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth? Cor. Shall remain ! Have you not set them on? Pear you this Tritan of the mindows? mark you Bru. Stop, |
