Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun, Men. Masters of the people, Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, 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, And in the brunt of seventeen battles since, He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last, I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers, A vessel under sail, so men obey'd, And fell below his stem: his sword, death's stamp, [Exit. The mortal gate of the city, which he painted Men. Worthy man! 1 Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honours Which we devise him. Com. Our spoils he kick'd at; And look'd upon things precious, as they were His deeds with doing them, and is content Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd 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, It is a part That I shall blush in acting, and might well Be taken from the people. thus I did, and thus; Cor. To brag unto them, - 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 honour. Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! [Flourish. Exeunt Senators. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people. Sic. May they perceive 's intent! He will require them, As if he did contemn what he requested Should be in them to give. Bru. Come; we'll inform them Of our proceedings here: on the market-place, SCENE III. The Same. The Forum. Enter several Citizens. [Exeunt. 1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. 2 Cit. We may, Sir, if we will. 3 Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for if he shows 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 monstrous, 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. 1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve: for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude. 3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, 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 of one direct way should be at once to all the points o' the compass. 2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge, my wit would fly? 3 Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will: 't is strongly wedged up in a block-head; but if it were at liberty, 't would, sure, southward. 2 Cit. Why that way? 3 Cit. 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. 2 Cit. You are never without your tricks: you may. -- you may, 3 Cit. Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that'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 and 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. 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 by him. All. Content, content. Men. O Sir, you are not right: have you not known The worthiest men have done 't? [Exeunt. What must I say? my wounds; Look, Sir; I got them in my country's service, when Men. O me, the gods! You must not speak of that: you must desire them To think upon you. Cor. Think upon me? Hang 'em! You'll mar all: Which our divines lose by 'em. Men. I'll leave you. Pray you, speak to them, I pray you, [Exit. Cor. Enter two Citizens. Bid them wash their faces, And keep their teeth clean. So, here comes a brace. 1 Cit. We do, Sir: tell us what hath brought you to 't. How! not your own desire? Cor. No, Sir: 't was never my desire yet, To trouble the poor with begging. 1 Cit. You must think, if we give you any thing, we hope to gain by you. Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o' the consulship? 1 Cit. The price is, to ask it kindly. |