Shall teach the people, (which time shall not want, As to set dogs on sheep) will be his fire To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze Bru. Enter a Messenger. What's the matter? Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. 'T is thought, A shower, and thunder, with their caps, and shouts. 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 't is 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 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. 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, bonneted, without any farther deed to have 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. they are coming. Make way, 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 Volsces, To send for Titus Lartius, it remains, and Hath thus stood for his country. Therefore, please you, The present consul, and last general By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom We meet here, both to thank, and to remember 1 Sen. Than we to stretch it out. Masters o' the people, Sic. We are convented Upon a pleasing treaty; and have hearts Inclinable to honour and advance The theme of our assembly. Bru. Which the rather We shall be blessed to do, if he remember A kinder value of the people, than He hath hereto priz'd them at. Men. That's off, that's off: I would you rather had been silent. Please you He loves your people; But tie him not to be their bedfellow. Worthy Cominius, speak. Nay, keep your place. [CORIOLANUS rises, and offers to go away. 1 Sen. Sit, Coriolanus: never shame to hear What you have nobly done. Cor. I had rather have my wounds to heal again, Than hear say how I got them. Bru. My words dis-bench'd you not. Cor. Your honours' pardon: Sir, I hope, No, Sir: yet oft, I fled from words. When blows have made me stay, You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not. But, your people, I love them as they weigh. Men. Pray now, sit down. Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun, Men. Masters of the people, Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, Most dignifies the haver: if it be, Be singly counterpois'd. At sixteen years, He prov'd best man i' the field; And in the brunt of seventeen battles since, He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last, I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers, A vessel under sail, so men obey'd, And fell below his stem: his sword, death's stamp, [Exit. The mortal gate of the city, which he painted When by and by the din of war 'gan pierce Men. Worthy man! 1 Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honours Which we devise him. Com. Our spoils he kick'd at; His deeds with doing them, and is content Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd I do beseech you, That you do speak to the people. Cor. 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, |