The good patricians must be visited; From whom I have receiv'd, not only greetings, But with them change of honours. Vol. To see inherited my very wishes, And the buildings of my fancy: I have lived Only there's one thing wanting, which I doubt not, Cor. Know, good mother, I had rather be their servant in my way, Than sway with them in theirs. Com. [Flourish. On, to the Capitol! Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before. The Tribunes remain. Bru. 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, Clambering the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks, windows, In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens Sic. I warrant him consul. Bru. On the sudden Then our office may, During his power, go sleep. Sic. He cannot temperately transport his honours From where he should begin, and end; but will Bru. In that there's comfort. Sic. Doubt not, the commoners, for whom we stand, But they, upon their ancient malice, will Forget, with the least cause, these his new honours; Were he to stand for consul, never would he Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds "T is right. Bru. It was his word. O! he would miss it, rather Than carry it but by the suft o' the gentry to him, And the desire of the nobles. Sic. I wish no better, Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it Sic. It shall be to him, then, as our good wills, 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 In human action and capacity, Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world, who have their provand Sic. and sore blows This, as you say, suggested At some time when his soaring insolence 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? 'Tis thought, I have seen You are sent for to the Capitol. That Marcius shall be consul. The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind -As to Jove's statue, and the commons made A shower, and thunder, with their caps, and shouts. 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. [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. he 1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love or no, 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, 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, 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 To hear Cominius speak? Bru. But yet my caution was more pertinent, Than the rebuke you give it. Men. Most willingly; 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. |