SCENE I. Rome. A public place
Enter Menenius with the two Tribunes of the people, Sicinius andBrutus.
MENENIUS.The augurer tells me we shall have news tonight.
BRUTUS.Good or bad?
MENENIUS.Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Martius.
SICINIUS.Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.
MENENIUS.Pray you, who does the wolf love?
SICINIUS.The lamb.
MENENIUS.Ay, to devour him, as the hungry plebeians would the noble Martius.
BRUTUS.He’s a lamb indeed, that baas like a bear.
MENENIUS.He’s a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tellme one thing that I shall ask you.
BOTH TRIBUNES.Well, sir.
MENENIUS.In what enormity is Martius poor in, that you two have not inabundance?
BRUTUS.He’s poor in no one fault, but stored with all.
SICINIUS.Especially in pride.
BRUTUS.And topping all others in boasting.
MENENIUS.This is strange now. Do you two know how you are censured here in thecity, I mean of us o’ th’ right-hand file, do you?
BOTH TRIBUNES.Why, how are we censured?
MENENIUS.Because you talk of pride now, will you not be angry?
BOTH TRIBUNES.Well, well, sir, well?
MENENIUS.Why, ’tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will robyou of a great deal of patience. Give your dispositions the reins, andbe angry at your pleasures, at the least, if you take it as a pleasureto you in being so. You blame Martius for being proud.
BRUTUS.We do it not alone, sir.
MENENIUS.I know you can do very little alone, for your helps are many, or elseyour actions would grow wondrous single. Your abilities are tooinfantlike for doing much alone. You talk of pride. O that you couldturn your eyes toward the napes of your necks and make but an interiorsurvey of your good selves! O, that you could!
BOTH TRIBUNES.What then, sir?
MENENIUS.Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent,testy magistrates, alias fools, as any in Rome.
SICINIUS.Menenius, you are known well enough, too.
MENENIUS.I am known to be a humorous patrician and one that loves a cup of hotwine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in’t; said to be somethingimperfect in favouring the first complaint, hasty and tinder-like upontoo trivial motion; one that converses more with the buttock of thenight than with the forehead of the morning. What I think I utter, andspend my malice in my breath. Meeting two such wealsmen as you are—Icannot call you Lycurguses—if the drink you give me touch my palateadversely, I make a crooked face at it. I cannot say your Worships havedelivered the matter well when I find the ass in compound with themajor part of your syllables. And though I must be content to bear withthose that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly thattell you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my microcosm,follows it that I am known well enough too? What harm can your bissonconspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough,too?
BRUTUS.Come, sir, come; we know you well enough.
MENENIUS.You know neither me, yourselves, nor anything. You are ambitious forpoor knaves’ caps and legs. You wear out a good wholesome forenoon inhearing a cause between an orange-wife and a faucet-seller, and thenrejourn the controversy of threepence to a second day of audience. Whenyou are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to bepinched with the colic, you make faces like mummers, set up the bloodyflag against all patience, and, in roaring for a chamber pot, dismissthe controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing. All thepeace you make in their cause is calling both the parties knaves. Youare a pair of strange ones.
BRUTUS.Come, come. You are well understood to be a perfecter giber for thetable than a necessary bencher in the Capitol.
MENENIUS.Our very priests must become mockers if they shall encounter suchridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the purpose,it is not worth the wagging of your beards, and your beards deserve notso honourable a grave as to stuff a botcher’s cushion or to be entombedin an ass’s packsaddle. Yet you must be saying Martius is proud, who,in a cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors since Deucalion,though peradventure some of the best of ’em were hereditary hangmen.Good e’en to your Worships. More of your conversation would infect mybrain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians. I will be bold totake my leave of you.
[He begins to exit. Brutus and Sicinius stand aside.]
Enter Volumnia, Virgilia and Valeria
How now, my as fair as noble ladies—and the moon, were she earthly, nonobler—whither do you follow your eyes so fast?
VOLUMNIA.Honourable Menenius, my boy Martius approaches. For the love of Juno,let’s go!
MENENIUS.Ha? Martius coming home?
VOLUMNIA.Ay, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous approbation.
MENENIUS.Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee! Hoo! Martius coming home?
VALERIA, VIRGILIA.Nay, ’tis true.
VOLUMNIA.Look, here’s a letter from him. The state hath another, his wifeanother, and I think there’s one at home for you.
MENENIUS.I will make my very house reel tonight. A letter for me?
VIRGILIA.Yes, certain, there’s a letter for you; I saw it.
MENENIUS.A letter for me? It gives me an estate of seven years’ health, in whichtime I will make a lip at the physician. The most sovereignprescription in Galen is but empiricutic and, to this preservative, ofno better report than a horse drench. Is he not wounded? He was wont tocome home wounded.
VIRGILIA.O, no, no, no!
VOLUMNIA.O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for’t.
MENENIUS.So do I too, if it be not too much. Brings he victory in his pocket,the wounds become him.
VOLUMNIA.On’s brows, Menenius. He comes the third time home with the oakengarland.
MENENIUS.Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?
VOLUMNIA.Titus Lartius writes they fought together, but Aufidius got off.
MENENIUS.And ’twas time for him too, I’ll warrant him that. An he had stayed byhim, I would not have been so ’fidiused for all the chests in Coriolesand the gold that’s in them. Is the Senate possessed of this?
VOLUMNIA.Good ladies, let’s go.—Yes, yes, yes. The Senate has letters from theGeneral, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war. He hath inthis action outdone his former deeds doubly.
VALERIA.In troth, there’s wondrous things spoke of him.
MENENIUS.Wondrous? Ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing.
VIRGILIA.The gods grant them true.
VOLUMNIA.True? Pow, waw!
MENENIUS.True? I’ll be sworn they are true. Where is he wounded? [To theTribunes.] God save your good Worships! Martius is coming home; he hasmore cause to be proud.—Where is he wounded?
VOLUMNIA.I’ th’ shoulder and i’ th’ left arm. There will be large cicatrices toshow the people when he shall stand for his place. He received in therepulse of Tarquin seven hurts i’ th’ body.
MENENIUS.One i’ th’ neck and two i’ th’ thigh—there’s nine that I know.
VOLUMNIA.He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him.
MENENIUS.Now it’s twenty-seven. Every gash was an enemy’s grave.
[A shout and flourish.]
Hark, the trumpets!
VOLUMNIA.These are the ushers of Martius: before him he carries noise, andbehind him he leaves tears.Death, that dark spirit, in’s nervy arm doth lie,Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die.
[A sennet.]
Enter Cominius the General and Titus Lartius, between them Coriolanuscrowned with an oaken garland, with Captains and Soldiers and a Herald.Trumpets sound.
HERALD.Know, Rome, that all alone Martius did fightWithin Corioles’ gates, where he hath won,With fame, a name to Caius Martius; theseIn honour follows “Coriolanus.”Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus.
[Sound flourish.]
ALL.Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!
CORIOLANUS.No more of this, it does offend my heart.Pray now, no more.
COMINIUS.Look, sir, your mother.
CORIOLANUS.O,You have, I know, petitioned all the godsFor my prosperity.
[Kneels.]
VOLUMNIA.Nay, my good soldier, up.
[He stands.]
My gentle Martius, worthy Caius, andBy deed-achieving honour newly named—What is it? Coriolanus must I call thee?But, O, thy wife—
CORIOLANUS.My gracious silence, hail.Wouldst thou have laughed had I come coffined home,That weep’st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear,Such eyes the widows in Corioles wearAnd mothers that lack sons.
MENENIUS.Now the gods crown thee!
CORIOLANUS.And live you yet? [To Valeria] O my sweet lady, pardon.
VOLUMNIA.I know not where to turn. O, welcome home!And welcome, general.—And you’re welcome all.
MENENIUS.A hundred thousand welcomes! I could weep,And I could laugh; I am light and heavy. Welcome.A curse begin at very root on’s heartThat is not glad to see thee! You are threeThat Rome should dote on; yet, by the faith of men,We have some old crab trees here at home that will notBe grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors!We call a nettle but a nettle, andThe faults of fools but folly.
COMINIUS.Ever right.
CORIOLANUS.Menenius ever, ever.
HERALD.Give way there, and go on!
CORIOLANUS.[To Volumnia and Virgilia.] Your hand, and yours.Ere in our own house I do shade my head,The good patricians must be visited,From whom I have received not only greetings,But with them change of honours.
VOLUMNIA.I have livedTo see inherited my very wishesAnd the buildings of my fancy. OnlyThere’s one thing wanting, which I doubt not butOur Rome will cast upon thee.
CORIOLANUS.Know, good mother,I had rather be their servant in my wayThan sway with them in theirs.
COMINIUS.On, to the Capitol.
[Flourish of cornets. Exeunt in state, as before.]
Brutus and Sicinius come forward.
BRUTUS.All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sightsAre spectacled to see him. Your prattling nurseInto a rapture lets her baby cryWhile she chats him. The kitchen malkin pinsHer richest lockram ’bout her reechy neck,Clamb’ring the walls to eye him. Stalls, bulks, windowsAre smothered up, leads filled, and ridges horsedWith variable complexions, all agreeingIn earnestness to see him. Seld-shown flamensDo press among the popular throngs and puffTo win a vulgar station. Our veiled damesCommit the war of white and damask inTheir nicely-gauded cheeks to th’ wanton spoilOf Phoebus’ burning kisses. Such a pother,As if that whatsoever god who leads himWere slyly crept into his human powersAnd gave him graceful posture.
SICINIUS.On the suddenI warrant him consul.
BRUTUS.Then our office may,During his power, go sleep.
SICINIUS.He cannot temp’rately transport his honoursFrom where he should begin and end, but willLose those he hath won.
BRUTUS.In that there’s comfort.
SICINIUS.Doubt not the commoners, for whom we stand,But they, upon their ancient malice will forgetWith the least cause these his new honours—whichThat he will give them make as little questionAs he is proud to do’t.
BRUTUS.I heard him swear,Were he to stand for consul, never would heAppear i’ th’ marketplace nor on him putThe napless vesture of humility,Nor showing, as the manner is, his woundsTo th’ people, beg their stinking breaths.
SICINIUS.’Tis right.
BRUTUS.It was his word. O, he would miss it ratherThan carry it but by the suit of the gentry to himAnd the desire of the nobles.
SICINIUS.I wish no betterThan have him hold that purpose and to put itIn execution.
BRUTUS.’Tis most like he will.
SICINIUS.It shall be to him then, as our good wills,A sure destruction.
BRUTUS.So it must fall outTo him, or our authorities for an end.We must suggest the people in what hatredHe still hath held them; that to’s power he wouldHave made them mules, silenced their pleaders, andDispropertied their freedoms; holding themIn human action and capacityOf no more soul nor fitness for the worldThan camels in their war, who have their provandOnly for bearing burdens, and sore blowsFor sinking under them.
SICINIUS.This, as you say, suggestedAt some time when his soaring insolenceShall touch the people—which time shall not wantIf it be put upon’t, and that’s as easyAs to set dogs on sheep—will be his fireTo kindle their dry stubble, and their blazeShall darken him for ever.
Enter a Messenger.
BRUTUS.What’s the matter?
MESSENGER.You are sent for to the Capitol. ’Tis thoughtThat Martius shall be consul. I have seenThe dumb men throng to see him, and the blindto hear him speak; matrons flung gloves,Ladies and maids their scarves and handkerchiefs,Upon him as he passed; the nobles bendedAs to Jove’s statue, and the Commons madeA shower and thunder with their caps and shouts.I never saw the like.
BRUTUS.Let’s to the Capitol;And carry with us ears and eyes for th’ time,But hearts for the event.
SICINIUS.Have with you.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. Rome. The Capitol
Enter two Officers, to lay cushions, as it were in the Capitol.
FIRST OFFICER.Come, come. They are almost here. How many stand for consulships?
SECOND OFFICER.Three, they say; but ’tis thought of everyone Coriolanus will carry it.
FIRST OFFICER.That’s a brave fellow, but he’s vengeance proud and loves not thecommon people.
SECOND OFFICER.’Faith, there have been many great men that have flattered the peoplewho ne’er loved them; and there be many that they have loved they knownot wherefore; so that, if they love they know not why, they hate uponno better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whetherthey love or hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in theirdisposition and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainlysee’t.
FIRST OFFICER.If he did not care whether he had their love or no, he wavedindifferently ’twixt doing them neither good nor harm; but he seekstheir hate with greater devotion than they can render it him and leavesnothing undone that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seemto affect the malice and displeasure of the people is as bad as thatwhich he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.
SECOND OFFICER.He hath deserved worthily of his country, and his ascent is not by sucheasy degrees as those who, having been supple and courteous to thepeople, bonnetted, without any further deed to have them at all intotheir estimation and report; but he hath so planted his honours intheir eyes and his actions in their hearts that for their tongues to besilent and not confess so much were a kind of ingrateful injury. Toreport otherwise were a malice that, giving itself the lie, would pluckreproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.
FIRST OFFICER.No more of him; he’s a worthy man. Make way. They are coming.
A sennet. Enter the Patricians and the Tribunes of the people, Lictorsbefore them; Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius the consul. The Patricianssit. Sicinius and Brutus take their places by themselves. Coriolanusstands.
MENENIUS.Having determined of the Volsces andTo send for Titus Lartius, it remains,As the main point of this our after-meeting,To gratify his noble service thatHath thus stood for his country. Therefore please you,Most reverend and grave elders, to desireThe present consul and last generalIn our well-found successes to reportA little of that worthy work performedBy Martius Caius Coriolanus, whomWe met here both to thank and to rememberWith honours like himself.
[Coriolanus sits.]
FIRST SENATOR.Speak, good Cominius.Leave nothing out for length, and make us thinkRather our state’s defective for requital,Than we to stretch it out. Masters o’ th’ people,We do request your kindest ears and, after,Your loving motion toward the common bodyTo yield what passes here.
SICINIUS.We are conventedUpon a pleasing treaty and have heartsInclinable to honour and advanceThe theme of our assembly.
BRUTUS.Which the ratherWe shall be blest to do if he rememberA kinder value of the people thanHe hath hereto prized them at.
MENENIUS.That’s off, that’s off!I would you rather had been silent. Please youTo hear Cominius speak?
BRUTUS.Most willingly.But yet my caution was more pertinentThan the rebuke you give it.
MENENIUS.He loves your people,But tie him not to be their bedfellow.—Worthy Cominius, speak.
[Coriolanus rises, and offers to go away.]
Nay, keep your place.
FIRST SENATOR.Sit, Coriolanus. Never shame to hearWhat you have nobly done.
CORIOLANUS.Your Honours, pardon.I had rather have my wounds to heal againThan hear say how I got them.
BRUTUS.Sir, I hopeMy words disbenched you not?
CORIOLANUS.No, sir. Yet oft,When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.You soothed not, therefore hurt not; but your people,I love them as they weigh.
MENENIUS.Pray now, sit down.
CORIOLANUS.I had rather have one scratch my head i’ th’ sunWhen the alarum were struck than idly sitTo hear my nothings monstered.
[Exit.]
MENENIUS.Masters of the people,Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter—That’s thousand to one good one—when you now seeHe had rather venture all his limbs for honourThan one on’s ears to hear it?—Proceed, Cominius.
COMINIUS.I shall lack voice. The deeds of CoriolanusShould not be uttered feebly. It is heldThat valour is the chiefest virtue andMost dignifies the haver; if it be,The man I speak of cannot in the worldBe singly counterpoised. At sixteen years,When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he foughtBeyond the mark of others. Our then dictator,Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fightWhen with his Amazonian chin he droveThe bristled lips before him. He bestridAn o’erpressed Roman and i’ th’ Consul’s viewSlew three opposers. Tarquin’s self he metAnd struck him on his knee. In that day’s feats,When he might act the woman in the scene,He proved best man i’ th’ field and for his meedWas brow-bound with the oak. His pupil ageMan-entered thus, he waxed like a sea,And in the brunt of seventeen battles sinceHe lurched all swords of the garland. For this last,Before and in Corioles, let me say,I cannot speak him home. He stopped the flyersAnd by his rare example made the cowardTurn terror into sport. As weeds beforeA vessel under sail, so men obeyedAnd fell below his stem. His sword, Death’s stamp,Where it did mark, it took; from face to footHe was a thing of blood, whose every motionWas timed with dying cries. Alone he enteredThe mortal gate o’ th’ city, which he paintedWith shunless destiny; aidless came offAnd with a sudden reinforcement struckCorioles like a planet. Now all’s his,When by and by the din of war gan pierceHis ready sense; then straight his doubled spiritRequickened what in flesh was fatigate,And to the battle came he, where he didRun reeking o’er the lives of men as if’Twere a perpetual spoil; and till we calledBoth field and city ours, he never stoodTo ease his breast with panting.
MENENIUS.Worthy man!
FIRST SENATOR.He cannot but with measure fit the honoursWhich we devise him.
COMINIUS.Our spoils he kicked at;And looked upon things precious as they wereThe common muck of the world. He covets lessThan misery itself would give, rewardsHis deeds with doing them, and is contentTo spend the time to end it.
MENENIUS.He’s right noble.Let him be called for.
FIRST SENATOR.Call Coriolanus.
OFFICER.He doth appear.
Enter Coriolanus.
MENENIUS.The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleasedTo make thee consul.
CORIOLANUS.I do owe them stillMy life and services.
MENENIUS.It then remainsThat you do speak to the people.
CORIOLANUS.I do beseech youLet me o’erleap that custom, for I cannotPut on the gown, stand naked, and entreat themFor my wounds’ sake to give their suffrage. Please youThat I may pass this doing.
SICINIUS.Sir, the peopleMust have their voices; neither will they bateOne jot of ceremony.
MENENIUS.Put them not to’t.Pray you, go fit you to the custom, andTake to you, as your predecessors have,Your honour with your form.
CORIOLANUS.It is a partThat I shall blush in acting, and might wellBe taken from the people.
BRUTUS.Mark you that?
CORIOLANUS.To brag unto them, “thus I did, and thus!”Show them th’ unaching scars which I should hide,As if I had received them for the hireOf their breath only!
MENENIUS.Do not stand upon’t.—We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,Our purpose to them, and to our noble consulWish we all joy and honour.
SENATORS.To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!
[Flourish cornets. Exeunt all but Sicinius and Brutus.]
BRUTUS.You see how he intends to use the people.
SICINIUS.May they perceive’s intent! He will require themAs if he did contemn what he requestedShould be in them to give.
BRUTUS.Come, we’ll inform themOf our proceedings here. On th’ marketplaceI know they do attend us.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE III. Rome. The Forum
Enter seven or eight Citizens.
FIRST CITIZEN.Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.
SECOND CITIZEN.We may, sir, if we will.
THIRD CITIZEN.We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have nopower to do; for, if he show us his wounds and tell us his deeds, weare to put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them. So, if hetell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance ofthem. Ingratitude is monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingratefulwere to make a monster of the multitude, of the which we being members,should bring ourselves to be monstrous members.
FIRST CITIZEN.And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve; for oncewe stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us themany-headed multitude.
THIRD CITIZEN.We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, someblack, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diverselycoloured; and truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of oneskull, they would fly east, west, north, south, and their consent ofone direct way should be at once to all the points o’ th’ compass.
SECOND CITIZEN.Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?
THIRD CITIZEN.Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man’s will; ’tis stronglywedged up in a blockhead. But if it were at liberty, ’twould, sure,southward.
SECOND CITIZEN.Why that way?
THIRD CITIZEN.To lose itself in a fog, where being three parts melted away withrotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience’ sake, to help toget thee a wife.
SECOND CITIZEN.You are never without your tricks. You may, you may.
THIRD CITIZEN.Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that’s no matter; thegreater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people,there was never a worthier man.
Enter Coriolanus in a gown of humility, with Menenius.
Here he comes, and in the gown of humility. Mark his behaviour. We arenot to stay all together, but to come by him where he stands, by ones,by twos, and by threes. He’s to make his requests by particulars,wherein everyone of us has a single honour in giving him our own voiceswith our own tongues. Therefore follow me, and I’ll direct you how youshall go by him.
ALL.Content, content.
[Exeunt.]
MENENIUS.O sir, you are not right. Have you not knownThe worthiest men have done’t?
CORIOLANUS.What must I say?“I pray, sir”—plague upon’t! I cannot bringMy tongue to such a pace. “Look, sir, my wounds!I got them in my country’s service whenSome certain of your brethren roared and ranFrom th’ noise of our own drums.”
MENENIUS.O me, the gods!You must not speak of that. You must desire themTo think upon you.
CORIOLANUS.Think upon me! Hang ’em!I would they would forget me, like the virtuesWhich our divines lose by ’em.
MENENIUS.You’ll mar all.I’ll leave you. Pray you speak to ’em, I pray you,In wholesome manner.
[Exit Menenius.]
CORIOLANUS.Bid them wash their facesAnd keep their teeth clean.
Enter three of the Citizens.
So, here comes a brace.You know the cause, sirs, of my standing here.
THIRD CITIZEN.We do, sir. Tell us what hath brought you to’t.
CORIOLANUS.Mine own desert.
SECOND CITIZEN.Your own desert?
CORIOLANUS.Ay, but not mine own desire.
THIRD CITIZEN.How, not your own desire?
CORIOLANUS.No, sir, ’twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging.
THIRD CITIZEN.You must think if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you.
CORIOLANUS.Well then, I pray, your price o’ th’ consulship?
FIRST CITIZEN.The price is to ask it kindly.
CORIOLANUS.Kindly, sir, I pray, let me ha’t. I have wounds to show you, whichshall be yours in private.—Your good voice, sir. What say you?
SECOND CITIZEN.You shall ha’ it, worthy sir.
CORIOLANUS.A match, sir. There’s in all two worthy voices begged. I have youralms. Adieu.
THIRD CITIZEN.But this is something odd.
SECOND CITIZEN.An ’twere to give again—but ’tis no matter.
[Exeunt two citizens.]
Enter two other Citizens.
CORIOLANUS.Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices that I maybe consul, I have here the customary gown.
FOURTH CITIZEN.You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deservednobly.
CORIOLANUS.Your enigma?
FOURTH CITIZEN.You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to herfriends. You have not indeed loved the common people.
CORIOLANUS.You should account me the more virtuous that I have not been common inmy love. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn adearer estimation of them; ’tis a condition they account gentle. Andsince the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat than myheart, I will practise the insinuating nod and be off to them mostcounterfeitly. That is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of somepopular man and give it bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseechyou, I may be consul.
FIFTH CITIZEN.We hope to find you our friend, and therefore give you our voicesheartily.
FOURTH CITIZEN.You have received many wounds for your country.
CORIOLANUS.I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much ofyour voices and so trouble you no farther.
BOTH CITIZENS.The gods give you joy, sir, heartily.
[Exeunt citizens.]
CORIOLANUS.Most sweet voices!Better it is to die, better to starve,Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.Why in this wolvish toge should I stand hereTo beg of Hob and Dick that does appearTheir needless vouches? Custom calls me to’t.What custom wills, in all things should we do’t?The dust on antique time would lie unsweptAnd mountainous error be too highly heapedFor truth to o’erpeer. Rather than fool it so,Let the high office and the honour goTo one that would do thus. I am half through;The one part suffered, the other will I do.
Enter three Citizens more.
Here come more voices.Your voices! For your voices I have fought;Watched for your voices; for your voices bearOf wounds two dozen odd. Battles thrice sixI have seen and heard of; for your voices haveDone many things, some less, some more. Your voices!Indeed, I would be consul.
SIXTH CITIZEN.He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man’s voice.
SEVENTH CITIZEN.Therefore let him be consul. The gods give him joy, and make him goodfriend to the people!
ALL THREE CITIZENS.Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul.
[Exeunt citizens.]
CORIOLANUS.Worthy voices!
Enter Menenius with Brutus and Sicinius.
MENENIUS.You have stood your limitation, and the TribunesEndue you with the people’s voice. RemainsThat in th’ official marks invested, youAnon do meet the Senate.
CORIOLANUS.Is this done?
SICINIUS.The custom of request you have discharged.The people do admit you, and are summonedTo meet anon upon your approbation.
CORIOLANUS.Where? At the Senate House?
SICINIUS.There, Coriolanus.
CORIOLANUS.May I change these garments?
SICINIUS.You may, sir.
CORIOLANUS.That I’ll straight do and, knowing myself again,Repair to th’ Senate House.
MENENIUS.I’ll keep you company.—Will you along?
BRUTUS.We stay here for the people.
SICINIUS.Fare you well.
[Exeunt Coriolanus and Menenius.]
He has it now; and by his looks, methinks,’Tis warm at his heart.
BRUTUS.With a proud heart he woreHis humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people?
Enter the Pebleians.
SICINIUS.How now, my masters, have you chose this man?
FIRST CITIZEN.He has our voices, sir.
BRUTUS.We pray the gods he may deserve your loves.
SECOND CITIZEN.Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice,He mocked us when he begged our voices.
THIRD CITIZEN.Certainly, he flouted us downright.
FIRST CITIZEN.No, ’tis his kind of speech. He did not mock us.
SECOND CITIZEN.Not one amongst us, save yourself, but saysHe used us scornfully. He should have showed usHis marks of merit, wounds received for’s country.
SICINIUS.Why, so he did, I am sure.
ALL.No, no. No man saw ’em.
THIRD CITIZEN.He said he had wounds, which he could show in private,And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,“I would be consul,” says he; “aged custom,But by your voices, will not so permit me;Your voices therefore.” When we granted that,Here was “I thank you for your voices. Thank you.Your most sweet voices! Now you have left your voices,I have no further with you.” Was not this mockery?
SICINIUS.Why either were you ignorant to see’tOr, seeing it, of such childish friendlinessTo yield your voices?
BRUTUS.Could you not have told himAs you were lessoned? When he had no power,But was a petty servant to the state,He was your enemy, ever spake againstYour liberties and the charters that you bearI’ th’ body of the weal; and, now arrivingA place of potency and sway o’ th’ state,If he should still malignantly remainFast foe to th’ plebeii, your voices mightBe curses to yourselves. You should have saidThat as his worthy deeds did claim no lessThan what he stood for, so his gracious natureWould think upon you for your voices, andTranslate his malice towards you into love,Standing your friendly lord.
SICINIUS.Thus to have said,As you were fore-advised, had touched his spiritAnd tried his inclination; from him pluckedEither his gracious promise, which you might,As cause had called you up, have held him to;Or else it would have galled his surly nature,Which easily endures not articleTying him to aught. So putting him to rage,You should have ta’en th’ advantage of his cholerAnd passed him unelected.
BRUTUS.Did you perceiveHe did solicit you in free contemptWhen he did need your loves, and do you thinkThat his contempt shall not be bruising to youWhen he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodiesNo heart among you? Or had you tongues to cryAgainst the rectorship of judgment?
SICINIUS.Have you ere now denied the asker, and nowAgain, of him that did not ask but mock,Bestow your sued-for tongues?
THIRD CITIZEN.He’s not confirmed.We may deny him yet.
SECOND CITIZEN.And will deny him.I’ll have five hundred voices of that sound.
FIRST CITIZEN.I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece ’em.
BRUTUS.Get you hence instantly, and tell those friendsThey have chose a consul that will from them takeTheir liberties, make them of no more voiceThan dogs that are as often beat for barkingAs therefore kept to do so.
SICINIUS.Let them assembleAnd, on a safer judgment, all revokeYour ignorant election. Enforce his prideAnd his old hate unto you. Besides, forget notWith what contempt he wore the humble weed,How in his suit he scorned you; but your loves,Thinking upon his services, took from youTh’ apprehension of his present portance,Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashionAfter the inveterate hate he bears you.
BRUTUS.LayA fault on us, your tribunes, that we laboured,No impediment between, but that you mustCast your election on him.
SICINIUS.Say you chose himMore after our commandment than as guidedBy your own true affections, and that your minds,Preoccupied with what you rather must doThan what you should, made you against the grainTo voice him consul. Lay the fault on us.
BRUTUS.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’ th’ Martians, from whence cameThat Ancus Martius, Numa’s daughter’s son,Who, after great Hostilius here was king,Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,That our best water brought by conduits hither;And Censorinus, that was so surnamed,And nobly named so, twice being censor,Was his great ancestor.
SICINIUS.One thus descended,That hath beside well in his person wroughtTo be set high in place, we did commendTo your remembrances; but you have found,Scaling his present bearing with his past,That he’s your fixed enemy, and revokeYour sudden approbation.
BRUTUS.Say you ne’er had done’t—Harp on that still—but by our putting on.And presently when you have drawn your number,Repair to th’ Capitol.
ALL.We will so. Almost allRepent in their election.
[Exeunt Plebeians.]
BRUTUS.Let them go on.This mutiny were better put in hazardThan stay, past doubt, for greater.If, as his nature is, he fall in rageWith their refusal, both observe and answerThe vantage of his anger.
SICINIUS.To th’ Capitol, come.We will be there before the stream o’ th’ people,And this shall seem, as partly ’tis, their own,Which we have goaded onward.
[Exeunt.]