I
can say your worships have delivered52 the matter well, when I
find the ass in compound53 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 deadly55 that
tell you have good faces: if you see this in the map of my
microcosm57, follows it that I am known well enough too?
What harm can your bisson conspectuities58 glean out of this
character59, if I be known well enough too?
BRUTUS Come, sir, come, we know you well enough.
MENENIUS You know neither me, yourselves nor anything: you
are ambitious for poor knaves’ caps and legs62: you wear out a
good wholesome forenoon63 in hearing a cause between an
orange-wife and a faucet-seller, and then rejourn64 the
controversy of threepence to a second day of audience65.
When you are hearing a matter between party and party66, if
you chance to be pinched67 with the colic, you make faces like
mummers, set up the bloody flag68 against all patience, and in
roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding69,
the more entangled by your hearing: all the peace you make169
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 bencher74 in the
Capitol.
MENENIUS Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall
encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When77 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 botcher80’s cushion, or to be entombed in an
ass’s pack-saddle: yet you must be saying, ‘Martius is proud’,
who, in a cheap82 estimation, is worth all your predecessors
since Deucalion, though peradventure83 some of the best of
’em were hereditary hangmen. Good e’en84 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 [stand] aside
Enter Volumnia, Virgilia and Valeria
How now, my as fair as noble ladies: and the moon88, were she
earthly, no nobler: whither do you follow your eyes89 so fast?
VOLUMNIA Honourable Menenius, my boy Martius approaches:
for the love of Juno91, let’s go.
MENENIUS Ha? Martius coming home?
VOLUMNIA Ay, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous approbation93.
MENENIUS Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee. Hoo, Martius
coming home?
He throws up his cap
VIRGILIA and VALERIA 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 estate104 of seven years’
health, in which time I will make a lip at105 the physician: the
most sovereign prescription in Galen is but empiricutic106, and
to this preservative, of no better report than a horse-drench107.
Is he not wounded? He was wont108 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 a111 victory in
his pocket? The wounds become him.
VOLUMNIA On’s brows113: Menenius, he comes the third time
home with the oaken garland.
MENENIUS Has he disciplined115 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 ’fidiussed119
for all the chests in Corioles, and the gold that’s in them. Is
the senate possessed121 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 action124 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 purchasing128.
VIRGILIA The gods grant them true.
VOLUMNIA True? Pow waw!130
MENENIUS True? I’ll be sworn they are true. Where
To the Tribunes
is he wounded?— God save your good worships! Martius is
coming home: he has more cause to be proud.— Where is he
wounded?
VOLUMNIA I’th’shoulder, and i’th’left arm: there will be large
cicatrices136 to show the people, when he shall stand for his
place: he received in the repulse of Tarquin137 seven hurts
i’th’body.
MENENIUS One i’th’neck, and two i’th’thigh: there’s nine139 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 Martius: before him he
carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears:
Death, that dark spirit, in’s nervy148 arm doth lie,
Which being advanced, declines149, 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 Martius did fight
Within Corioles’ gates: where he hath won,
With fame, a name to152 ‘Martius Caius’:
These in honour follows153 ‘Coriolanus’.
Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!
Sound [a] 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, petitioned all the gods
For my prosperity160.
Kneels
VOLUMNIA Nay, my good soldier, up:
He rises
My gentle162 Martius, worthy Caius,
And by deed-achieving honour163 newly named:
What is it? ‘Coriolanus’ must I call thee?
But O, thy wife!
CORIOLANUS My gracious166 silence, hail.
To Virgilia
Wouldst thou have laughed had I come coffined home,
That weep’st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear,
Such eyes the widows in Corioles wear,
And mothers that lack sons.
MENENIUS Now the gods crown thee!
CORIOLANUS And live you yet? O my sweet lady, pardon.
To Valeria
VOLUMNIA I know not where to turn. O, welcome home:
And welcome, general, and you’re welcome all.
MENENIUS A hundred thousand welcomes: I could weep
And I could laugh, I am light and heavy: welcome:
A curse bein at very root on’s177 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-trees180 here at home that will not
Be grafted to your relish181. Yet welcome, warriors:
We182 call a nettle but a nettle and
The faults of fools but folly.
COMINIUS Ever right.
CORIOLANUS Menenius, ever, ever.
HERALD Give186 way there, and go on.
CORIOLANUS Your hand, and yours.
To Volumnia and Virgilia
Ere in our own house I do shade188 my head,
The good patricians must be visited,
From whom I have received not only greetings,
But with them change of honours191.
VOLUMNIA I have lived
To see inherited193 my very wishes,
And the buildings of my fancy194: only
There’s one thing wanting195, which I doubt not but
Our Rome will cast196 upon thee.
CORIOLANUS Know, good mother,
I had rather be their servant in my way,
Than sway199 with them in theirs.
COMINIUS On, to the Capitol.
Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before
Enter Brutus and Sicinius
BRUTUS All tongues speak of him, and the blearèd201 sights
Are spectacled to see him. Your prattling202 nurse
Into a rapture203 lets her baby cry
While she chats him: the kitchen malkin204 pins
Her richest lockram ’bout her reechy205 neck,
Clamb’ring the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks206, windows
Are smothered up, leads filled, and ridges horsed207
With variable complexions, all agreeing208
In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens209
Do press among the popular throngs and puff210
To win a vulgar station211: our veiled dames
Commit the war of white and damask212 in
Their nicely gauded cheeks to th’wanton spoil213
Of Phoebus’ burning kisses: such a pother214
As if that whatsoever god who leads him215
Were slily crept into his human powers216,
And gave him graceful posture217.
SICINIUS On the sudden, I warrant218 him consul.
BRUTUS Then our office may, during his power219, go sleep.
SICINIUS He cannot temp’rately transport his honours
From where he should begin and end220, but will
Lose those he hath won.
BRUTUS In that there’s comfort.
SICINIUS Doubt not
The commoners, for whom we stand225, but they
Upon their ancient226 malice will forget
With the least cause these his new honours, which227
That he will give them make I as little question
As229 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 vesture233 of humility,
Nor, showing, as the manner is, his wounds
To th’people, beg their stinking breaths235.
SICINIUS ’Tis right.
BRUTUS It was his word: O, he would miss it237 rather
Than carry it but238 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 like243 he will.
SICINIUS It shall be to him then, as our good wills244:
A sure destruction.
BRUTUS So it must fall out246
To him or our authorities for an end.
We must suggest248 the people in what hatred
He still249 hath held them: that to’s power he would
Have made them mules, silenced their pleaders250,
And dispropertied251 their freedoms, holding them,
In human action and capacity252,
Of no more soul nor fitness for the world
Than camels in their war, who have their provand254
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 teach the people — which time shall not want259,
If he be put upon’t260, and that’s as easy
As to set dogs on sheep — will be his fire
To kindle their dry stubble, and their blaze
Shall darken263 him for ever.
Enter a Messenger
BRUTUS What’s the matter?
MESSENGER You are sent for to the Capitol: ’tis thought
That Martius shall be consul: I have seen
The dumb men throng to see him and the blind
To hear him speak: matrons268 flung gloves,
Ladies and maids their scarves and handkerchiefs,
Upon him as he passed: the nobles bended270
As to Jove271’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’time275,
But hearts for the event276.
SICINIUS Have with you277.
Exeunt
running scene 6
Enter two Officers, to lay cushions, as it were, in the Capitol
FIRST OFFICER Come, come, they are almost here: how many
stand for consulships?
SECOND OFFICER Three, they say: but ’tis thought of3 everyone
Coriolanus will carry it.
FIRST OFFICER That’s a brave fellow: but he’s vengeance5 proud,
and loves not the common people.
SECOND OFFICER Faith, there hath been many great men7 that
have flattered the people, who ne’er loved them8: and there be
many that they have loved, they know not wherefore9: 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 in12
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 waved16 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 opposite19. Now to seem to affect19 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 degrees23 as those who, having
been supple and courteous to the people, bonneted, without24
any further 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 lie29,
would pluck reproof 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 [Sicinius and Brutus], Lictors before them: Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius the consul. Sicinius and Brutus take their places by themselves: Coriolanus stands
MENENIUS Having determined of33 the Volsces and
To send for Titus Lartius, it remains
As the main point of this our after-meeting35,
To gratify36 his noble service that
Hath thus stood for37 his country. Therefore please you,
Most reverend and grave38 elders, to desire
The present consul and last general
In our well-found40 successes to report
A little of that worthy work performed
By Martius Caius Coriolanus, whom
We met here both to thank and to remember
With honours like himself44.
FIRST SENATOR Speak, good Cominius:
Leave nothing out for length46, and make us think
Rather our state’s defective for requital47
Than we to stretch it out.— Masters o’th’people,
To the Tribunes
We do request your kindest ears: and after49
Your loving motion toward the common body50,
To yield51 what passes here.
SICINIUS We are convented upon a pleasing treaty52, and have
hearts inclinable to honour and advance the theme53 of our
assembly.
BRUTUS Which the rather we shall be blest55 to do if he
remember a kinder value of the people than he hath hereto56
prized them at.
MENENIUS That’s off58, 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.
To Coriolanus
FIRST SENATOR Sit, Coriolanus: never shame to hear
What you have nobly done.
CORIOLANUS Your honour’s pardon:
I had rather have my wounds to heal again
Than hear say how I got them.
BRUTUS Sir, I hope my words disbenched70 you not?
CORIOLANUS No, sir: yet oft,
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.
You soothed73 not, therefore hurt not: but your people,
I love them as they weigh74—
MENENIUS Pray now, sit down.
CORIOLANUS I had rather have76 one scratch my head i’th’sun
When the alarum were struck than idly sit
To hear my nothings monstered78.
Exit Coriolanus
MENENIUS Masters of the people,
Your multiplying spawn80 how can he flatter —
That’s thousand to one good one81 — when you now see
He had rather venture all his limbs for honour
Than one on’s83 ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius.
COMINIUS I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus
Should not be uttered 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 counterpoised89. At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for90 Rome, he fought
Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator91,
Whom with all praise I point at92, saw him fight,
When with his Amazonian93 chin he drove
The bristled lips before him: he bestrid94
An o’erpressed Roman, and i’th’consul’s view95
Slew three opposers: Tarquin’s self he met,
And struck him on97 his knee: in that day’s feats,
When he might act the woman in the scene98,
He proved best man i’th’field and for his meed99
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil100 age
Man-entered thus, he waxèd101 like a sea,
And in the brunt102 of seventeen battles since
He lurched all swords of the garland: for103 this last,
Before and in Corioles, let me say
I cannot speak him home: he stopped the fliers105,
And by his rare106 example made the coward
Turn terror into sport: as weeds before
A vessel under sail, so men obeyed
And fell below his stem: his sword, death’s stamp109,
Where it did mark, it took110: from face to foot
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Was timed112 with dying cries: alone he entered
The mortal gate of th’city, which he, painted113
With shunless destiny, aidless came off114,
And with a sudden reinforcement struck115
Corioles like a planet116: now all’s his:
When by and by the din of war gan117 pierce
His ready sense: then straight his doubled118 spirit
Requickened what in flesh was fatigate119,
And to the battle came he, where he did
Run reeking121 o’er the lives of men, as if
’Twere a perpetual spoil122: and till we called
Both field and city ours, he never stood
To ease his breast with panting.
MENENIUS Worthy man.
FIRST SENATOR He cannot but with measure126 fit the honours
which we devise him.
COMINIUS Our spoils he kicked at128,
And looked upon things precious as129 they were
The common muck of the world: he covets less
Than misery131 itself would give, rewards
His deeds with doing them132, and is content
To spend the time to end it133.
MENENIUS He’s right noble: let him be called for.
FIRST SENATOR Call Coriolanus.
OFFICER He doth appear.
Enter Coriolanus
MENENIUS The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased to make
thee consul.
CORIOLANUS I do owe them still139 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 naked143, and entreat them,
For my wounds’ sake, to give their sufferage144:
Please you that I may pass145 this doing.
SICINIUS Sir, the people must have their voices146:
Neither will they bate147 one jot of ceremony.
MENENIUS Put148 them not to’t:
Pray you, go fit you to the custom and
Take to you, as your predecessors have,
Your honour with your form151.
CORIOLANUS It is a part that I shall blush in acting,
And might well be taken from the people.
BRUTUS Mark you that?
To Sicinius
CORIOLANUS To brag unto them, ‘Thus I did, and thus’:
Show them th’unaching scars which I should hide,
As if I had received them for the hire157
Of their breath only!
MENENIUS Do not stand upon’t159:
We recommend160 to you, tribunes of the people,
Our purpose to them161, and to our noble consul
Wish we all joy and honour.
SENATORS To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!
Flourish [of] cornets. Then exeunt [all but] Sicinius and Brutus
BRUTUS You see how he intends to use164 the people.
SICINIUS May they perceive’s intent! He will require165 them
As if he did contemn166 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 attend170 us.
[Exeunt]
[Act 2 Scene 3]
running scene 7
Enter seven or eight Citizens
FIRST CITIZEN Once1, 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 do5 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 monstrous9, 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 help13
will serve: for once14 we stood up about the corn, he himself
stuck15 not to call us the many-headed multitude.
THIRD CITIZEN We have been called so of many, not that16 our
heads are some brown, some black, some abram17, 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 of20 one direct way
should be at once to all the points o’th’compass.
SECOND CITIZEN Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit
would fly?
THIRD CITIZEN Nay, your wit will not so soon out24 as another
man’s will: ’tis strongly wedged up in a blockhead: but if it
were at liberty, ‘twould sure southward26.
SECOND CITIZEN Why that way?
THIRD CITIZEN To lose itself in a fog, where being three parts
melted away with rotten29 dews, the fourth would return for
conscience30’ sake, to help to get thee a wife.
SECOND CITIZEN You are never without your tricks: you may31,
you may.
THIRD CITIZEN Are you all resolved to give your voices141? But that’s
no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline34
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
behaviour. We are not to stay all together, but to come by
him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes.
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