| [Enter MENENIUS with the two Tribunes of the people,
SICINIUS and BRUTUS. | |
| MENENIUS | The augurer tells me we shall have news to-night. |
| BRUTUS | Good or bad? |
| MENENIUS | Not according to the prayer of the people, for they
love not Marcius. |
| 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 Marcius. |
| BRUTUS | He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear. |
| MENENIUS | He's a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two
are old men: tell me one thing that I shall ask you. |
| Both | Well, sir. |
| MENENIUS | In what enormity is Marcius poor in, that you two
have not in abundance? |
| 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 the city, I mean of us o' the right-hand file? do you? |
| Both | Why, how are we censured? |
| MENENIUS | Because you talk of pride now,--will you not be angry? |
| Both | Well, well, sir, well. |
| MENENIUS | Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of
occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least if you take it as a pleasure to you in being so. You blame Marcius 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 else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like for doing much alone. You talk of pride: O that you could turn your eyes toward the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves! O that you could! |
| BRUTUS | 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 hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in't; said to be something imperfect in favouring the first complaint; hasty and tinder-like upon too trivial motion; one that converses more with the buttock of the night than with the forehead of the morning: what I think I utter, and spend my malice in my breath. Meeting two such wealsmen as you are--I cannot call you Lycurguses--if the drink you give me touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I can't say your worships have delivered the matter well, when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables: and though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that tell you you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my microcosm, follows it that I am known well enough too? what barm can your bisson conspectuities 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 any thing. You
are ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs: you wear out a good wholesome forenoon in hearing a cause between an orange wife and a fosset-seller; and then rejourn the controversy of three pence to a second day of audience. When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinched with the colic, you make faces like mummers; set up the bloody flag against all patience; and, in roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding the more entangled by your hearing: all the peace you make in their cause is, calling both the parties knaves. You are a pair of strange ones. |
| BRUTUS | Come, come, you are well understood to be a
perfecter giber for the table than a necessary bencher in the Capitol. |
| MENENIUS | Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall
encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the purpose, it is not worth the wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not so honourable a grave as to stuff a botcher's cushion, or to be entombed in an ass's pack- saddle. Yet you must be saying, Marcius is proud; who in a cheap estimation, is worth predecessors since Deucalion, though peradventure some of the best of 'em were hereditary hangmen. God-den to your worships: more of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians: I will be bold to take my leave of you. |
| [BRUTUS and SICINIUS go aside] | |
| [Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and VALERIA] | |
| How now, my as fair as noble ladies,--and the moon,
were she earthly, no nobler,--whither do you follow your eyes so fast? | |
| VOLUMNIA | Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for
the love of Juno, let's go. |
| MENENIUS | Ha! Marcius coming home! |
| VOLUMNIA | Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most prosperous
approbation. |
| MENENIUS | Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee. Hoo!
Marcius coming home! |
| VOLUMNIA
VIRGILIA | |
| Nay,'tis true. | |
| VOLUMNIA | Look, here's a letter from him: the state hath
another, his wife another; 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't. |
| MENENIUS | A letter for me! it gives me an estate of seven
years' health; in which time I will make a lip at the physician: the most sovereign prescription in Galen is but empiricutic, and, to this preservative, of no better report than a horse-drench. Is he not wounded? he was wont to come 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 a'
victory in his pocket? the wounds become him. |
| VOLUMNIA | On's brows: Menenius, he comes the third time home
with the oaken garland. |
| 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 by him, I would not have been so fidiused for all the chests in Corioli, and 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 the general, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war: he hath in this 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, wow. |
| MENENIUS | True! I'll be sworn they are true.
Where is he wounded? |
| [To the Tribunes] | |
| God save your good worships! Marcius is coming
home: he has more cause to be proud. Where is he wounded? | |
| VOLUMNIA | I' the shoulder and i' the left arm there will be
large cicatrices to show the people, when he shall stand for his place. He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts i' the body. |
| MENENIUS | One i' the neck, and two i' the 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 Marcius: before him he
carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears: Death, that dark spirit, in 's nervy arm doth lie; Which, being advanced, declines, and then men die. |
| [A sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter COMINIUS the
general, and TITUS LARTIUS; between them, CORIOLANUS, crowned with an oaken garland; with Captains and Soldiers, and a Herald] | |
| Herald | Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight
Within Corioli gates: where he hath won, With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these In honour follows Coriolanus. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus! |
| [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, petition'd all the gods For my prosperity! |
| [Kneels] | |
| VOLUMNIA | Nay, my good soldier, up;
My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and By 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 laugh'd had I come coffin'd home, That weep'st to see me triumph? Ay, my dear, Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear, And 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 ye'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 heart, That is not glad to see thee! You are three That Rome should dote on: yet, by the faith of men, We have some old crab-trees here at home that will not Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors: We call a nettle but a nettle and The 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 lived
To see inherited my very wishes And the buildings of my fancy: only There's one thing wanting, which I doubt not but Our Rome will cast upon thee. |
| CORIOLANUS | Know, good mother,
I had rather be their servant in my way, Than sway with them in theirs. |
| COMINIUS | On, to the Capitol! |
| [Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before.
BRUTUS and SICINIUS come forward] | |
| BRUTUS | All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights
Are spectacled to see him: your prattling 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, windows, Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges horsed 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: or 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. |
| SICINIUS | On the sudden,
I warrant him consul. |
| BRUTUS | Then our office may,
During his power, go sleep. |
| SICINIUS | He cannot temperately transport his honours
From where he should begin and end, but will Lose 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 forget 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. |
| BRUTUS | 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 showing, as the manner is, his wounds To the people, beg their stinking breaths. |
| SICINIUS | 'Tis right. |
| BRUTUS | It was his word: O, he would miss it rather
Than carry it but by the suit of the gentry to him, And the desire of the nobles. |
| SICINIUS | I wish no better
Than have him hold that purpose and to put it In 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 out
To him or our authorities. For an end, We must suggest the people in what hatred He still hath held them; that to's power he would Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders and Dispropertied their freedoms, holding them, In human action and capacity, Of no more soul nor fitness for the world Than camels in the war, who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows For sinking under them. |
| SICINIUS | This, as you say, suggested
At some time when his soaring insolence Shall touch 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. |
| [Enter a Messenger] | |
| BRUTUS | What's the matter? |
| Messenger | 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 bear him speak: matrons flung gloves, Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchers, 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. |
| BRUTUS | Let's to the Capitol;
And carry with us ears and eyes for the time, But hearts for the event. |
| SICINIUS | Have with you. |
| [Exeunt] |
| [Enter two Officers, to lay cushions] | |
| First Officer | Come, come, they are almost here. How many stand
for consulships? |
| Second Officer | Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every one
Coriolanus will carry it. |
| First Officer | That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and
loves not the common people. |
| Second Officer | Faith, there had been many great men that have
flattered 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. |
| First Officer | 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 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. |
| Second Officer | 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, bonneted, without any further deed to have them at an 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. |
| First Officer | No more of him; he is a worthy man: make way, they
are coming. |
| [A sennet. Enter, with actors before them, COMINIUS
the consul, MENENIUS, CORIOLANUS, Senators, SICINIUS and BRUTUS. The Senators take their places; the Tribunes take their Places by themselves. CORIOLANUS stands] | |
| MENENIUS | Having determined 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 Caius Marcius Coriolanus, whom We met here both to thank and to remember With honours like himself. |
| First Senator | 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. |
| [To the Tribunes] | |
| Masters o' the people,
We do request your kindest ears, and after, Your loving motion toward the common body, To yield what passes here. | |
| SICINIUS | We are convented
Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts Inclinable to honour and advance The theme of our assembly. |
| BRUTUS | Which the rather
We shall be blest to do, if he remember A kinder value of the people than He hath hereto prized them at. |
| MENENIUS | That's off, that's off;
I would you rather had been silent. Please you To hear Cominius speak? |
| BRUTUS | Most willingly;
But yet my caution was more pertinent Than the rebuke you give it. |
| MENENIUS | He loves your people
But tie him not to be their bedfellow. Worthy Cominius, speak. |
| [CORIOLANUS offers to go away] | |
| Nay, keep your place. | |
| First Senator | Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear
What you have nobly done. |
| CORIOLANUS | Your horror's pardon:
I had rather have my wounds to heal again Than hear say how I got them. |
| BRUTUS | Sir, I hope
My words disbench'd 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' the sun
When the alarum were struck than idly sit To hear my nothings monster'd. |
| [Exit] | |
| MENENIUS | Masters of the people,
Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter-- That's thousand to one good one--when you now see He had rather venture all his limbs for honour Than one on's ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius. |
| COMINIUS | I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus
Should not be utter'd feebly. It is held That valour is the chiefest virtue, and Most dignifies the haver: if it be, The man I speak of cannot in the world Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years, When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator, Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight, When with his Amazonian chin he drove The bristled lips before him: be bestrid An o'er-press'd Roman and i' the consul's view Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met, And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats, When he might act the woman in the scene, He proved best man i' the field, and for his meed Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea, And in the brunt of seventeen battles since He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last, Before and in Corioli, let me say, I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers; And by his rare example made the coward Turn terror into sport: as weeds before A vessel under sail, so men obey'd And fell below his stem: his sword, death's stamp, Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot He was a thing of blood, whose every motion Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd The mortal gate of the city, which he painted With shunless destiny; aidless came off, And with a sudden reinforcement struck Corioli like a planet: now all's his: When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate, And to the battle came he; where he did Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if 'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'd Both field and city ours, he never stood To ease his breast with panting. |
| MENENIUS | Worthy man! |
| First Senator | He cannot but with measure fit the honours
Which we devise him. |
| COMINIUS | Our spoils he kick'd at,
And look'd upon things precious as they were The common muck of the world: he covets less Than misery itself would give; rewards His deeds with doing them, and is content To spend the time to end it. |
| MENENIUS | He's right noble:
Let him be call'd for. |
| First Senator | Call Coriolanus. |
| Officer | He doth appear. |
| [Re-enter CORIOLANUS] | |
| MENENIUS | The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased
To make thee consul. |
| CORIOLANUS | I do owe them still
My life and services. |
| MENENIUS | It then remains
That you do speak to the people. |
| CORIOLANUS | I do beseech you,
Let me o'erleap that custom, for I cannot Put on the gown, stand naked and entreat them, For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please you That I may pass this doing. |
| SICINIUS | Sir, the people
Must have their voices; neither will they bate One jot of ceremony. |
| MENENIUS | Put them not to't:
Pray you, go fit you to the custom and Take to you, as your predecessors have, Your honour with your form. |
| CORIOLANUS | It is apart
That I shall blush in acting, and might well Be taken from the people. |
| BRUTUS | Mark you that? |
| CORIOLANUS | To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus;
Show them the unaching scars which I should hide, As if I had received them for the hire Of 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 consul Wish we all joy and honour. |
| Senators | To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! |
| [Flourish of 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 them,
As if he did contemn what he requested Should be in them to give. |
| BRUTUS | Come, we'll inform them
Of our proceedings here: on the marketplace, I know, they do attend us. |
| [Exeunt] |
| [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 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. |
| First Citizen | And to make us no better thought of, a little help
will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude. |
| Third Citizen | 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 diversely coloured: and truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, 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. |
| 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 strongly wedged up in a block-head, 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 with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience sake, to help to get 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, the greater 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
behavior. We are not 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 every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues: therefore follow me, and I direct you how you shall go by him. | |
| All | Content, content. |
| [Exeunt Citizens] | |
| MENENIUS | O sir, you are not right: have you not known
The worthiest men have done't? |
| CORIOLANUS | What must I say?
'I Pray, sir'--Plague upon't! I cannot bring My tongue to such a pace:--'Look, sir, my wounds! I got them in my country's service, when Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran From the noise of our own drums.' |
| MENENIUS | O me, the gods!
You must not speak of that: you must desire them To think upon you. |
| CORIOLANUS | Think upon me! hang 'em!
I would they would forget me, like the virtues Which 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] | |
| CORIOLANUS | Bid them wash their faces
And keep their teeth clean. |
| [Re-enter two of the Citizens] | |
| So, here comes a brace. | |
| [Re-enter a third Citizen] | |
| You know the cause, air, 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 any thing, we hope to
gain by you. |
| CORIOLANUS | Well then, I pray, your price o' the 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, which shall 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 your alms: adieu. |
| Third Citizen | But this is something odd. |
| Second Citizen | An 'twere to give again,--but 'tis no matter. |
| [Exeunt the three Citizens] | |
| [Re-enter two other Citizens] | |
| CORIOLANUS | Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your
voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown. |
| Fourth Citizen | You have deserved nobly of your country, and you
have not deserved nobly. |
| CORIOLANUS | Your enigma? |
| Fourth Citizen | You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have
been a rod to her friends; you have not indeed loved the common people. |
| CORIOLANUS | You should account me the more virtuous that I have
not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle: and since the wisdom 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 bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul. |
| Fifth Citizen | We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give
you our voices heartily. |
| Fourth Citizen | You have received many wounds for your country. |
| CORIOLANUS | I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I
will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further. |
| Both Citizens | The gods give you joy, sir, heartily! |
| [Exeunt] | |
| CORIOLANUS | Most sweet voices!
Better it is to die, better to starve, Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. Why in this woolvish toge 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 heapt For truth to o'er-peer. Rather than fool it so, Let the high office and the honour go To one that would do thus. I am half through; The one part suffer'd, the other will I do. |
| [Re-enter three Citizens more] | |
| Here come more voices.
Your voices: for your voices I have fought; Watch'd for your voices; for Your voices bear Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six I have seen and heard of; for your voices have Done 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 good friend to the people! |
| All Citizens | Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul! |
| [Exeunt] | |
| CORIOLANUS | Worthy voices! |
| [Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and SICINIUS] | |
| MENENIUS | You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes
Endue you with the people's voice: remains That, in the official marks invested, you Anon do meet the senate. |
| CORIOLANUS | Is this done? |
| SICINIUS | The custom of request you have discharged:
The people do admit you, and are summon'd To 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 the 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 methink
'Tis warm at 's heart. | |
| BRUTUS | With a proud heart he wore his humble weeds.
will you dismiss the people? |
| [Re-enter Citizens] | |
| 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 mock'd us when he begg'd 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 says
He used us scornfully: he should have show'd us His marks of merit, wounds received for's country. |
| SICINIUS | Why, so he did, I am sure. |
| Citizens | 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't,
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness To yield your voices? |
| BRUTUS | Could you not have told him
As you were lesson'd, when he had no power, But was a petty servant to the state, He was your enemy, ever spake against Your liberties and the charters that you bear I' the body of the weal; and now, arriving A place of potency and sway o' the state, If he should still malignantly remain Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might Be curses to yourselves? You should have said That as his worthy deeds did claim no less Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature Would think upon you for your voices and Translate his malice towards you into love, Standing your friendly lord. |
| SICINIUS | Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advised, had touch'd his spirit And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd Either his gracious promise, which you might, As cause had call'd you up, have held him to Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature, Which easily endures not article Tying him to aught; so putting him to rage, You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler And pass'd him unelected. |
| BRUTUS | Did you perceive
He did solicit you in free contempt When he did need your loves, and do you think That his contempt shall not be bruising to you, When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies No heart among you? or had you tongues to cry Against the rectorship of judgment? |
| SICINIUS | Have you
Ere now denied the asker? and now again Of him that did not ask, but mock, bestow Your sued-for tongues? |
| Third Citizen | He's not confirm'd; 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 friends,
They have chose a consul that will from them take Their liberties; make them of no more voice Than dogs that are as often beat for barking As therefore kept to do so. |
| SICINIUS | Let them assemble,
And on a safer judgment all revoke Your ignorant election; enforce his pride, And his old hate unto you; besides, forget not With what contempt he wore the humble weed, How in his suit he scorn'd you; but your loves, Thinking upon his services, took from you The apprehension of his present portance, Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion After the inveterate hate he bears you. |
| BRUTUS | Lay
A fault on us, your tribunes; that we laboured, No impediment between, but that you must Cast your election on him. |
| SICINIUS | Say, you chose him
More after our commandment than as guided By your own true affections, and that your minds, Preoccupied with what you rather must do Than what you should, made you against the grain To 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' the Marcians, from whence came That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son, Who, after great Hostilius, here was king; Of the same house Publius and Quintus were, That our beat water brought by conduits hither; And [Censorinus,] nobly named so, Twice being [by the people chosen] censor, Was his great ancestor. |
| SICINIUS | One thus descended,
That hath beside well in his person wrought To be set high in place, we did commend To your remembrances: but you have found, Scaling his present bearing with his past, That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke Your 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 the Capitol. |
| All | We will so: almost all
Repent in their election. |
| [Exeunt Citizens] | |
| BRUTUS | Let them go on;
This mutiny were better put in hazard, Than stay, past doubt, for greater: If, as his nature is, he fall in rage With their refusal, both observe and answer The vantage of his anger. |
| SICINIUS | To the Capitol, come:
We will be there before the stream o' the people; And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, Which we have goaded onward. |
| [Exeunt] |