While she chats him: the kitchen malkin pins Upon him as be pass'd: the nobles bended, Bru. Let's to the Capitol; And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, fla-But hearts for the event. Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd Do press among the popular throngs, and puff Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother, Sic. On the sudden, I warrant bim consul. Bru. Then our office may, During his power, go sleep. Sic. He cannot temperately transport his ho nours From where he should begin, and end; but will Bru. In that there's comfort. Sic. Doubt not the commoners, for whom we stand, nours; Which that he'll give them, make as little 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. But they, upon their ancient malice, will 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their Forget with the least cause these his new ho- love, or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing [tion them neither good nor harm; but he seeks their ques-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. Bru. I heard him swear, Were be to stand for consul, never would he Bru. It was his word: Oh! he would miss it, rather Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows Sie. This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence 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 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, Men. Having determin'd of the Volsces, and Hath thus stood for his country: Therefore, please you, Most reverend and grave elders, to desire Shall teach the people, (which time shall not The present consul, and last general want, If he be put upon't and that's as easy, Enter a MESSENGER. Bru. What's the matter? Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. thought, That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen blind In our well-found successes, to report A little of that worthy work perform'd 1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Leave nothing out for length, and make us think, "Tis Than we to stretch it out. Masters o'the people The dumb men throng to see him, and the [gloves, To hear him speak: The matrons flung their Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs, • Maid. A kind of cheap linen. Soiled with sweat and smoke. mon standing-place. 11 Seldom. Priests. Com Adorned. tt Thread-bare As our safety demands." § Provender. To yield what passes here. Sic. We are convented Cor. It is a part He had rather venture all his limbs for honour, That I shall blush in acting, and might well minius. Com. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Corio lanus Should not be utter'd feebly.-It is held, For this [last I cannot speak him home: He stopp'd the fliers; Bru. Mark you that! Cor. To brag unto them,-Thus I did, and thus ; Show them the unaching scars which I should hide, Men. Do not stand upon't. We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, Our purpose to them;-and to our noble consul Wish we all joy and honour. Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour ! [Flourish. Then exeunt SENATORS. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people Sic. May they perceive his intent! He that will require them, As if he did contemn what he requested Bru. Come, we'll inform them Of our proceedings here: on the market-place, I know they do attend us. [Exeunt. SCENE III.- The same.-The Forum. Enter several CITIZENS. 1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. 2 Cit. We may, Sir, if we will. 3 Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for if he show us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds, and speak for them; so, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude; of the which, we, being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members. 1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve for once, when we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude. 3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversly coloured and truly I think, if all cur • Avarics. wits were to issue out of one scull, they would fly east, west, north, south; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o'the compass. 2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge my wit would fly? 3 Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will; 'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head: but if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure south ward. 2 Cit. Why that way? 3 Cit. To lose itself in a fog; where, being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience' sake, to help to get thee a wife. Enter two other CITIZENS. Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices, that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown. 3 Cit. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly. Cor. Your enigma ? 3 Cit. You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have been a rod to her friends; you have not, indeed, loved the common people. Cor. You should account me the more virtuous, that I have not been common in my love. 2 Cit. You are never without your tricks :-I will, Sir, flatter ny sworn brother the people, You may, you may. to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a con 3 Cit. Are you all resolved to give your voices?dition they account gentle and since the wisdom But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man. of their choice is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod, and be off to them most counterfeitly: that is, Sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man, and give it bountifully to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul. 4 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices heartily. 3 Cit. You have received many wounds for your country. Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further. Both Cit. The gods give you joy, Sir, hear[Exeunt. tily! Cor. Most sweet voices !Better it is to die, better to starve, Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. Why in this woolvish gown should I stand here, To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear, Their needless vouches: Custom calls me to't :What custom wills, in all things should we do't; The dust on antique time would lie unswept, And mountainous error be too highly heap'd For truth to over-peer.-Rather than fool it so, Let the high office and the honour go. You must not speak of that: you must desire them To one that would do thus.-1 am half through ; To think upon you. Cor. Think upon me? Hang 'em! I would they would forget me, like the virtues Which our divines lose by them. Men. You'll mar all; The one part suffer'd, the other will I do. Here come more voices. Your voices; for your voices I have fought; Men. I'll keep you company.--Will you along? Bru. We stay here for the people. Sic. Fare you well. [Exeunt CORIOL. and MENEN. He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, 'Tis warm at his heart. Bru. With a proud heart he wore They have chose a consul, that will from them take His humble weeds: Will you dismiss the people? As therefore kept to do so. Re-enter CITIZENS. Sic. Let them assemble; And, on a safer judginent, all revoke Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride, this man? 1 Cit. He has our voices, Sir. Bru. We pray the gods, he may deserve your loves. 2 Cit. Amen, Sir: To my poor unworthy noHe mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices. [tice, 3 Cit. Certainly, He flouted us downright. 1 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us. 2 Cit. Not one amongst us save yourself, but says He us'd us scornfully: he should have show'd us His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for his country. Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure. [Several speak. 3 Cit. He said he had wounds, which he could show in private ; And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, you, Sic. Why, either you were ignorant to see't? Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness To yield your voices? Bru. Could you not have told him, As you were lesson'd,-When he had no power, And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd (No impediment between) but that you must Cast your election on him. Sic. Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided To voice him consul: Lay the fault on us. How youngly he began to serve his country, Sic. One thus descended, That hath beside well in his person wrought Bru. Say, you ne'er had don't, (Harp on that still,) but by our putting on : § And presently, when you have drawn your num Repair to the Capitol. [ber, Cit. We will so almost all [Several speak. Repent in their election. [Exeunt CITIZENS. Bru. Let them go on: This mutiny were better put in hazard, Sic. To the Capitol : (ple; Come; we'll be there before the stream o'the peoAnd this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own Which we have goaded ¶ onward. [Exeunt. Com. They are worn, lord consul, so, That we shall hardly in our ages see Their banners wave again. Cor. Saw you Aufidius? Lart. On safe-guard he came to me; did curse Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely Yielded the town: he is retir'd to Antium. Cor. Spoke he of me? Lart. He did, my lord. Cor. How? what? This was my speech, and I will speak't again ;Men. Not now, not now. 1 Sen. Not in this heat, Sir, now. Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My noble friends, I crave their pardons : Lart. How often he had met you, sword to For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them sword: That, of all things upon the earth, he hated Your person most: that he would pawn his tunes To hopeless restitution, so he might Mar. At Antium lives he? Lart. At Antium. for Cor. I wish I had a cause to seek him there, To oppose his hatred fully.-Welcome home. [To LARTIUS. Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS. Behold! these are the tribunes of the people, The tongues o'the common mouth. I do despise them : Regard me as I do not flatter, and Therein behold themselves: I say again, In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition, Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd and scatter'd, By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that Which they have given to beggars. Men. Well, no more. 1 Sen. No more words, we beseech you. As for my country I have shed my blood zels, Which we disdain should tetter ¶ us, yet sought The very way to catch them. Bru. You speak o'the people, As if you were a god to punish, not Sic. 'Twere well, We let the people know't. Men. What, what? his choler? Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, Sic. It is a mind, That shall remain a poison where it is, Not poison any further. Cor. Shall remain ! Hear you this Triton of the minnows? ** mark Com. 'Twas from the canon. + O good but most unwise patricians, why, To say, he'll turn your current in a ditch, beians, taste If they be senators: and they are no less, To know, when two authorities are up, Com. Well-on to the market-, lace. Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o'the storehouse gratis, as 'twas us'd Sometime in Greece, Men. Well, well, no more of that. Cor. (Though there the people had more ab solute power,) I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed |