Coriolanus

  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,    Clamb'ring the walls to eye him; stalls, bulks, windows,    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 th' 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 temp'rately 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 our 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' th' market-place, nor on him put    The napless vesture of humility;    Nor, showing, as the manner is, his wounds    To th' 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, silenc'd 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 their 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 hear 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 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 standfor    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 proudand    loves not the common people.  SECOND OFFICER. 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, ifthey    love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground.    Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they loveor    hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in their    disposition, and out of his noble carelessness lets themplainly    see't.  FIRST OFFICER. If he did not care whether he had their love orno,    he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good norharm;    but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can    render it him, and leaves nothing undone that may fullydiscover    him their opposite. Now to seem to affect the malice and    displeasure of the people is as bad as that which hedislikes- to    flatter them for their love.  SECOND OFFICER. He hath deserved worthily of his country; andhis    ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who, having been    supple and courteous to the people, bonneted, without anyfurther    deed to have them at all, into their estimation and report;but    he hath so planted his honours in their eyes and his actionsin    their hearts that for their tongues to be silent and notconfess    so much were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report 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, LICTORS before them; CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS the Consul. SICINIUS and BRUTUS take their places by themselves. CORIOLANUS stands  MENENIUS. 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 Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom    We met here both to thank and to remember    With honours like himself. [CORIOLANUS sits]  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. Masters o' th' 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 bless'd to do, if he remember    A kinder value of the people than    He hath hereto priz'd 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 rises, and offers to go away]    Nay, keep your place.  FIRST SENATOR. Sit, Coriolanus, never shame to hear    What you have nobly done.  CORIOLANUS. Your Honours' 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 sooth'd 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' 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 counterpois'd. 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; he bestrid    An o'erpress'd Roman and i' th' 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 prov'd best man i' th' field, and for his meed    Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age    Man-ent'red 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 tim'd with dying cries. Alone he ent'red    The mortal gate of th' city, which he painted    With shunless destiny; aidless came off,    And with a sudden re-enforcement 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-quick'ned 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 pleas'd    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 a part    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 th' unaching scars which I should hide,    As if I had receiv'd 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. Cornets. Then 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 th' market-place    I 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 notto    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 hiswounds    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. Ingratitudeis    monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful were tomake a    monster of the multitude; of the which we being membersshould    bring ourselves to be monstrous members.  FIRST CITIZEN. And to make us no better thought of, a littlehelp    will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he himselfstuck    not to call us the many-headed multitude.  THIRD CITIZEN. We have been call'd so of many; not that ourheads    are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but thatour    wits are so diversely colour'd; and truly I think if all ourwits    were to issue out of one skull, they would fly east, west,north,    south, and their consent of one direct way should be at onceto    all the points o' th' compass.  SECOND CITIZEN. Think you so? Which way do you judge my witwould    fly?  THIRD CITIZEN. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as anotherman's    will- 'tis strongly wedg'd up in a block-head; but if it wereat    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 resolv'd to give your voices? Butthat'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 hisbehaviour.    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'll direct you how you shall go byhim.  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 th' 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

Re-enter three of the citizens

  CORIOLANUS. Bid them wash their faces    And keep their teeth clean. So, here comes a brace.    You know the cause, sir, 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, not mine own desire.  THIRD CITIZEN. How, not your own desire?  CORIOLANUS. No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble thepoor    with begging.  THIRD CITIZEN. You must think, if we give you anything, we hopeto    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 toshow    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 voicesbegg'd.    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, andyou    have not deserved nobly.  CORIOLANUS. Your enigma?  FOURTH CITIZEN. You have been a scourge to her enemies; youhave    been a rod to her friends. You have not indeed loved thecommon    people.  CORIOLANUS. You should account me the more virtuous, that Ihave    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 willpractise    the insinuating nod and be off to them most counterfeitly.That    is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popularman    and give it bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech youI    may be consul.  FIFTH CITIZEN. We hope to find you our friend; and thereforegive    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 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 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 o'erpeer. 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 suffered, 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 anyhonest    man's voice.  SEVENTH CITIZEN. Therefore let him be consul. The gods give him    joy, and make him good friend to the people!  ALL. Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul!                                                 Exeunt citizens  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 th' official marks invested, you    Anon do meet the Senate.  CORIOLANUS. Is this done?  SICINIUS. The custom of request you have discharg'd.    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 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'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 us'd us scornfully. He should have show'd us    His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd 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'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' th' body of the weal; and now, arriving    A place of potency and sway o' th' state,    If he should still malignantly remain    Fast foe to th' 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-advis'd, 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 th' 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 su'd-for tongues?  THIRD CITIZEN. He's not confirm'd: we may deny him yet.  SECOND CITIZENS. 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    Th' 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 labour'd,    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,    Pre-occupied 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' th' 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 best 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 th' Capitol.  CITIZENS. We will so; almost all    Repent in their election. Exeunt plebeians  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 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

ACT III. SCENE I. Rome. A street