Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck, Clambering the walls to eye him: Stalls, bulks, win dows, Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens 24 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; 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 I as little question As he is proud to do't. Bru. I heard him swear, Were he to stand for consul, never would he Appear i'the market-place, nor on him put Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds 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. Bru. 'Tis most like, he will. Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good wills; A sure destruction. To him, or our authorities. For an end, We must suggest the people, in what hatred He still hath held them; that, to his power, he would Have made them mules, silenc'd their pleaders, and Disproperty'd 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 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. Bru. Enter a Messenger. 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 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, Sic. Have 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 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 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 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. 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 25, without any further deed to heave them at all 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 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 A little of that worthy work perform'd By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom We meet here, both to thank, and to remember 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. Masters o' the people, We are convented Sic. Inclinable to honour and advance The theme of our assembly. |