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.

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[Flourish. Cornets.

[Exeunt in State, as before.

BRUTUS and SICINIUS come forward.

Bru. All tongues speak of him, and the bleared

sights

Are spectacled to see him: Your pratling 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, win-
dows,

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.

220

230

Bru. 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 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,

240

With the least cause, these his new honours; which That he will 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
The napless vesture of humility;

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

Sic. 'Tis right.

250

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 will's,

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

E

261

He

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 reach 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 the fire

To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze
Shall darken him for ever.

Enter a Messenger.

Bru. What's the matter?

271

280

Mes. 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: Matrons flung gloves,

Ladies and maids their scarfs 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,

290

But

But hearts for the event.

Sic. Have with you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

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.

299

2 Off. 'Faith, there have been many great men that have flatter'd the people, who ne'er lov'd them; and there be many that they have lov'd, 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.

308

1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love, or no, he wav'd 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.

316

2 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country: And his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those, who have been supple and courteous to the people; bonnetted, 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.

329

A Sennet. Enter the Patricians, and the Tribunes of the
People, Lictors before them; CORIOLANUS, MENE-
NIUS, COMINIUS the Consul: SICINIUS and BRU-
TUS, as Tribunes, take their Places by themselves.

Men. Having determin'd of the Volsces, 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