You soothed not, therefore hurt not: but your people, I love them as they weigh. MENENIUS Pray now, sit down. CORIOLANUS I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun When the alarum were struck than idly sit To hear my nothings monster'd.
Exit MENENIUS 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 honour Than one on's ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius. COMINIUS 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 haver: if it be, The man I speak of cannot in the world Be singly counterpoised. 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: be 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 scene, He proved best man i' the field, and for his meed Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age Man-enter'd 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 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 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 timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd The mortal gate of the city, which he painted With shunless destiny; aidless came off, And with a sudden reinforcement struck Corioli 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 Re-quicken'd 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. MENENIUS Worthy man! First Senator He cannot but with measure fit the honours Which we devise him. COMINIUS 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. MENENIUS He's right noble:
Let him be call'd for. First Senator Call Coriolanus. Officer He doth appear.
Re-enter CORIOLANUS MENENIUS The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased To make thee consul. CORIOLANUS I do owe them still 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 naked and entreat them, For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please you That I may pass this doing. SICINIUS Sir, the people Must have their voices; neither will they bate One jot of ceremony. MENENIUS Put them not to't:
Pray you, go fit you to the custom and Take to you, as your predecessors have, Your honour with your form. CORIOLANUS It is apart That I shall blush in acting, and might well Be taken from the people. BRUTUS Mark you that? CORIOLANUS To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus;
Show them the unaching scars which I should hide, As if I had received them for the hire Of their breath only! MENENIUS 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. Senators To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!
Flourish of cornets. Exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS BRUTUS You see how he intends to use the people. SICINIUS May they perceive's intent! He will require them, As if he did contemn what he requested Should be in them to give. BRUTUS Come, we'll inform them Of our proceedings here: on the marketplace, I know, they do attend us.
