MEN.

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.

[1.] SEN.

Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear

What you have nobly done.

COR.

Your honors' pardon;

I had rather have my wounds to heal again

Than hear 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 people,

I love them as they weigh –

MEN.

Pray now, sit down.

COR.

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 Coriolanus.

 

MEN.

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 honor

Than [one on 's] 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 valor 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 Corioles, 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 reinforcement struck

Corioles 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

Requick'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.

MEN.

Worthy man!

[1.] SEN.

He cannot but with measure fit the honors

Which we devise him.

COM.

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.

MEN.

He's right noble.

Let him be call'd for.

[1.] SEN.

Call Coriolanus.

OFF.

He doth appear.

 

Enter Coriolanus.

 

MEN.

The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd

To make thee consul.

COR.

I do owe them still

My life and services.

MEN.

It then remains

That you do speak to the people.

COR.

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.

SIC.

Sir, the people

Must have their voices; neither will they bate

One jot of ceremony.

MEN.

Put them not to't.

Pray you go fit you to the custom, and

Take to you, as your predecessors have,

Your honor with your form.

COR.

It is a part

That I shall blush in acting, and might well

Be taken from the people.

BRU.

Mark you that.

COR.

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!

MEN.

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 honor.

SENATORS.

To Coriolanus come all joy and honor!

 

Flourish cornets.