Sic.

'Tis right.
Bru. It was his word: 0, he would miss it, rather
Than carry it, but by the suit o'the gentry to him,
And the desire of the nobles.

I wish no better,
Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it
In execution.
Bru.

Tis most like, he will.
Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good wills;
A sure destruction.
Bru.

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 his 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 provandt
Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
For sinking under them.
Sic.

This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence Shall teach 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.

Bru.

What's the matter? Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. 'Tis

thought, That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen The duinb men throng to see him, and the blind To hear him speak: The matrons Aung their gloves, Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs,

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.
Bru,

Let's to the Capitol;
And carry with us ears and eyes for the time,
But hearts for the event.
Sic.

Have with you.

[E.reunt.

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.

i 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 ma. lice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

2 Off. He hatb 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 t, 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 in. grateful 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 thein, Comi

nius, the Consul, Menenius, Coriolanus, many other Senators, Sicinius and Brutus. The Sena. tors take their places; the Tribunes take theirs also by themselves.

Mon. Having determin'd of the Volces, and
To sevd 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 meet here, both to thank, and to remember
With honours like himseif.
1 Sen.

Speak, good Cominius;

Leave nothing out for length, and make us think,
Rather our state's defective for requital,
Then we do stretch it out. Masters o'the people,
We do request your kindest ears : and, after,
Your loving motion toward the common body,
To yield what passes here.
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 bless'd 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
To hear Cominius speak ?
Bru.

Most willingly:
But yet my caution was more pertinent,
Than the rebuke you give it.
Men.

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.

Your honours' pardon;
I had rather have my wounds to heal again,
Than bear say how I got them.
Bru.

Sir, I hope,
My words disbench'd you not.
Cor.

No, sir: yet oft,
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words,
You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: But, your peo-

ple, I love them as they weigh. Men.

Pray now, sit dowa.

• Nothing to the purpose.

Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i'the

sun, When the alarum were struck*, than idly sit To hear my bothiogs monster'd.

[Erit Coriolanus. Men.

Masters o'the people, Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter (That's thousand to one good one), when you new see, He had rather venture all his limbs for honour, Than one of his ears to hear it-Proceed, Cominius.

Com. 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 havert : 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 the drove The bristled 6 lips before him: he 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 scenell, He prov'd best man i'the field, and for his meed Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age Man-entered thus, he waxed like a sea; And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since, He lurch'd** all swords o'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 waves before

# Summons to battle. : + Possessor,
Without a beard.

Bearded.
A Smooth-faced enough to act a woman's parts.

Reward. ** Won.