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Cor.

Know, good mother,

I had rather be their servant in my way,
Than sway with them in theirs.

Com.

On, to the Capitol. [Flourish. 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 pratling nurse Into a rapture lets her baby cry,

8

9

While she chats him: the kitchen malkin' pins
Her richest lockram * 'bout her reechy neck,
Clambering the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks,
windows,

Are smother'd up, leads fill'd, and ridges hors'd
With variable complexions; all agreeing

In earnestness to see him: seld '-shown flamens 2
Do press among the popular throngs, and puff
To win a vulgar station: our veil'd dames
Commit the war of white and damask, in

3

Their nicely-gawded cheeks, to the wanton spoil
Of Phoebus' burning kisses: such a pother,
As if that whatsoever god, who leads him,
Were slily crept into his human powers,
And gave him graceful posture.

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 Lose those that he hath won.

Bru.

In that there's comfort.

Sic. Doubt not, the commoners, for whom we

stand,

7 Maid. 8 Best linen.

1 Seldom.

9 Soiled with sweat and smoke. 3 Adorned.

2 Priests.

But they, upon their ancient malice, will

Forget, with the least cause, these his new honours; Which that he'll give them, make as little question As he is proud to do 't.

I heard him swear,

Bru.
Were he to stand for consul, never would he
Appear i' the market-place, nor on him put
The napless vesture of humility;

Nor, showing (as the manner is) his wounds
To the people, beg their stinking breaths.

Sic.

'Tis right. Bru. It was his word: O, he would miss it,

rather

Than carry it, but by the suit 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 In execution.

Bru.

'Tis most like, he will.

Sic. It shall be to him then, as our good wills; A sure destruction..

Bru.

So it must fall out

To him, or our authorities. For an end,

We must suggest the people, in what hatred
He still hath held them; that, to his

would

power, he

Have made them mules, silenc'd their pleaders,

and

Dispropertied their freedoms: holding them,
In human action and capacity,

Of no more soul, nor fitness for the world,

Than camels in their war; who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows

For sinking under them.

Sic.

This, as you say, suggested

At some time when his soaring insolence

Shall teach the people, (which time shall not want,

• Inform.

5 Provender.

If he be put upon't; and that's as easy,
As to set dogs on sheep,) will be his fire
To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze
Shall darken him for ever.

Bru.

Enter a Messenger.

What's the matter?

Mess. You are sent for to the Capitol. 'Tis

thought,

That Marcius shall be consul: I have seen

The dumb men throng to see him, and the blind
To hear him speak: The matrons flung their

gloves,

Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs,
Upon him as he pass'd: the nobles bended,
As to Jove's statue; and the commons made

A shower, and thunder, with their caps, and shouts :
I never saw the like.

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 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 'tis thought of every one, Coriolanus will carry it.

1 Of That's a brave fellow; but he's proud, and loves not the common people.

vengeance

2 Off. There have been many great men that have flatter'd 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, let's them plainly see 't.

1 Off. If he did not care whether he had their love, or no, he 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, bonnetted", without any further deed to heave 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 : Make way, they are coming.

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 Volces, and To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,

6 Took off caps.

As the main point of this our after-meeting,
To gratify his noble service, that

Hath thus stood for his country: Therefore, please

you,

Most reverend and grave elders, to desire
The present consul, and last general
In our well-found successes, to report
A little of that worthy work perform'd
By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; 'whom

We meet here, both to thank, and to remember
With honours like himself.

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1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Leave nothing out for length, and make us think, Rather our state's defective for requital, Then we to stretch it out. Masters o'the people, We do request your kindest ears: and, after, Your loving motion toward the common body, To yield what passes here.

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 bless'd to do, if he remember
A kinder value of the people, than

He hath hereto priz'd them at.

That's off, that's off",

Men.
I would you rather had been silent: Please you

To hear Cominius speak?

Bru.
But yet my caution was more pertinent,

Most willingly :

He loves your people;

Than the rebuke you give it.

Men.

But tie him not to be their bedfellow.

Worthy Cominius, speak.-Nay, keep your place. [CORIOLANUS rises, and offers to go away.

VOL. VIII.

"Nothing to the purpose.

N

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