ACT II. SCENE I. Rome. A public place  Enter MENENIUS, with the two Tribunes of the people, SICINIUS and BRUTUS    MENENIUS. The augurer tells me we shall have news tonight.   BRUTUS. Good or bad?   MENENIUS. Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love     not Marcius.   SICINIUS. Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.   MENENIUS. Pray you, who does the wolf love?   SICINIUS. The lamb.   MENENIUS. Ay, to devour him, as the hungry plebeians would the     noble Marcius.   BRUTUS. He's a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear.   MENENIUS. He's a bear indeed, that lives fike a lamb. You two are     old men; tell me one thing that I shall ask you.   BOTH TRIBUNES. Well, sir.   MENENIUS. In what enormity is Marcius poor in that you two have not     in abundance?   BRUTUS. He's poor in no one fault, but stor'd with all.   SICINIUS. Especially in pride.   BRUTUS. And topping all others in boasting.   MENENIUS. This is strange now. Do you two know how you are censured     here in the city- I mean of us o' th' right-hand file? Do you?   BOTH TRIBUNES. Why, how are we censur'd?   MENENIUS. Because you talk of pride now- will you not be angry?   BOTH TRIBUNES. Well, well, sir, well.   MENENIUS. Why, 'tis no great matter; for a very little thief of     occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience. Give your     dispositions the reins, and be angry at your pleasures- at the     least, if you take it as a pleasure to you in being so. You blame     Marcius for being proud?   BRUTUS. We do it not alone, sir.   MENENIUS. I know you can do very little alone; for your helps are     many, or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your     abilities are too infant-like for doing much alone. You talk of     pride. O that you could turn your eyes toward the napes of your     necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves! O     that you could!   BOTH TRIBUNES. What then, sir?   MENENIUS. Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting,     proud, violent, testy magistrates-alias fools- as any in Rome.   SICINIUS. Menenius, you are known well enough too.   MENENIUS. I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves     a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in't; said to     be something imperfect in favouring the first complaint, hasty     and tinder-like upon too trivial motion; one that converses more     with the buttock of the night than with the forehead of the     morning. What I think I utter, and spend my malice in my breath.     Meeting two such wealsmen as you are- I cannot call you     Lycurguses- if the drink you give me touch my palate adversely, I     make a crooked face at it. I cannot say your worships have     deliver'd the matter well, when I find the ass in compound with     the major part of your syllables; and though I must be content to     bear with those that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie     deadly that tell you you have good faces. If you see this in the     map of my microcosm, follows it that I am known well enough too?     What harm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this     character, if I be known well enough too?   BRUTUS. Come, sir, come, we know you well enough.   MENENIUS. You know neither me, yourselves, nor any thing. You are     ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs; you wear out a good     wholesome forenoon in hearing a cause between an orange-wife and     a fosset-seller, and then rejourn the controversy of threepence     to a second day of audience. When you are hearing a matter     between party and party, if you chance to be pinch'd with the     colic, you make faces like mummers, set up the bloody flag     against all patience, and, in roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss     the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing. All     the peace you make in their cause is calling both the parties     knaves. You are a pair of strange ones.   BRUTUS. Come, come, you are well understood to be a perfecter giber     for the table than a necessary bencher in the Capitol.   MENENIUS. Our very priests must become mockers, if they shall     encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak     best unto the purpose, it is not worth the wagging of your     beards; and your beards deserve not so honourable a grave as to     stuff a botcher's cushion or to be entomb'd in an ass's     pack-saddle. Yet you must be saying Marcius is proud; who, in a     cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors since Deucalion;     though peradventure some of the best of 'em were hereditary     hangmen. God-den to your worships. More of your conversation     would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly     plebeians. I will be bold to take my leave of you.                                   [BRUTUS and SICINIUS go aside]                 Enter VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA, and VALERIA      How now, my as fair as noble ladies- and the moon, were she     earthly, no nobler- whither do you follow your eyes so fast?   VOLUMNIA. Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the     love of Juno, let's go.   MENENIUS. Ha! Marcius coming home?   VOLUMNIA. Ay, worthy Menenius, and with most prosperous     approbation.   MENENIUS. Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee. Hoo!     Marcius coming home!   VOLUMNIA, VIRGILIA. Nay, 'tis true.   VOLUMNIA. Look, here's a letter from him; the state hath another,     his wife another; and I think there's one at home for you.   MENENIUS. I will make my very house reel to-night. A letter for me?   VIRGILIA. Yes, certain, there's a letter for you; I saw't.   MENENIUS. A letter for me! It gives me an estate of seven years'     health; in which time I will make a lip at the physician. The     most sovereign prescription in Galen is but empiricutic and, to     this preservative, of no better report than a horse-drench. Is he     not wounded? He was wont to come home wounded.   VIRGILIA. O, no, no, no.   VOLUMNIA. O, he is wounded, I thank the gods for't.   MENENIUS. So do I too, if it be not too much. Brings a victory in     his pocket? The wounds become him.   VOLUMNIA. On's brows, Menenius, he comes the third time home with     the oaken garland.   MENENIUS. Has he disciplin'd Aufidius soundly?   VOLUMNIA. Titus Lartius writes they fought together, but Aufidius     got off.   MENENIUS. And 'twas time for him too, I'll warrant him that; an he     had stay'd by him, I would not have been so fidius'd for all the     chests in Corioli and the gold that's in them. Is the Senate     possess'd of this?   VOLUMNIA. Good ladies, let's go. Yes, yes, yes: the Senate has     letters from the general, wherein he gives my son the whole name     of the war; he hath in this action outdone his former deeds     doubly.   VALERIA. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him.   MENENIUS. Wondrous! Ay, I warrant you, and not without his true     purchasing.   VIRGILIA. The gods grant them true!   VOLUMNIA. True! pow, waw.   MENENIUS. True! I'll be sworn they are true. Where is he wounded?     [To the TRIBUNES]  God save your good worships! Marcius is coming     home; he has more cause to be proud. Where is he wounded?   VOLUMNIA. I' th' shoulder and i' th' left arm; there will be large     cicatrices to show the people when he shall stand for his place.     He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts i' th' body.   MENENIUS. One i' th' neck and two i' th' thigh- there's nine that I     know.   VOLUMNIA. He had before this last expedition twenty-five wounds     upon him.   MENENIUS. Now it's twenty-seven; every gash was an enemy's grave.     [A shout and flourish]  Hark! the trumpets.   VOLUMNIA. These are the ushers of Marcius. Before him he carries       noise, and behind him he leaves tears;     Death, that dark spirit, in's nervy arm doth lie,     Which, being advanc'd, declines, and then men die.              A sennet. Trumpets sound. Enter COMINIUS the               GENERAL, and TITUS LARTIUS; between them,            CORIOLANUS, crown'd with an oaken garland; with                    CAPTAINS and soldiers and a HERALD    HERALD. Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight     Within Corioli gates, where he hath won,     With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these     In honour follows Coriolanus.     Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!             [Flourish]   ALL. Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!   CORIOLANUS. No more of this, it does offend my heart.     Pray now, no more.   COMINIUS. Look, sir, your mother!   CORIOLANUS. O,     You have, I know, petition'd all the gods     For my prosperity!                                  [Kneels]   VOLUMNIA. Nay, my good soldier, up;     My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and     By deed-achieving honour newly nam'd-     What is it? Coriolanus must I can thee?     But, O, thy wife!   CORIOLANUS. My gracious silence, hail!     Wouldst thou have laugh'd had I come coffin'd home,     That weep'st to see me triumph? Ah, my dear,     Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear,     And mothers that lack sons.   MENENIUS. Now the gods crown thee!   CORIOLANUS. And live you yet?  [To VALERIA]  O my sweet lady,     pardon.   VOLUMNIA. I know not where to turn.     O, welcome home! And welcome, General.     And y'are welcome all.   MENENIUS. A hundred thousand welcomes. I could weep     And I could laugh; I am light and heavy. Welcome!     A curse begin at very root on's heart     That is not glad to see thee! You are three     That Rome should dote on; yet, by the faith of men,     We have some old crab trees here at home that will not     Be grafted to your relish. Yet welcome, warriors.     We call a nettle but a nettle, and     The faults of fools but folly.   COMINIUS. Ever right.   CORIOLANUS. Menenius ever, ever.   HERALD. Give way there, and go on.   CORIOLANUS.  [To his wife and mother]  Your hand, and yours.     Ere in our own house I do shade my head,     The good patricians must be visited;     From whom I have receiv'd not only greetings,     But with them change of honours.   VOLUMNIA. I have lived     To see inherited my very wishes,     And the buildings of my fancy; only     There's one thing wanting, which I doubt not but     Our Rome will cast upon thee.   CORIOLANUS. Know, good mother,     I had rather be their servant in my way     Than sway with them in theirs.   COMINIUS. On, to the Capitol.                  [Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before]                  BRUTUS and SICINIUS come forward    BRUTUS. 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,     Clamb'ring 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     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     Their nicely gawded cheeks to th' 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.   SICINIUS. On the sudden     I warrant him consul.   BRUTUS. Then our office may     During his power go sleep.   SICINIUS. He cannot temp'rately transport his honours     From where he should begin and end, but will     Lose those he hath won.   BRUTUS. In that there's comfort.   SICINIUS. Doubt not     The commoners, for whom we stand, but they     Upon their ancient malice will forget     With the least cause these his new honours; which     That he will give them make I as little question     As he is proud to do't.   BRUTUS. I heard him swear,     Were he to stand for consul, never would he     Appear i' th' market-place, nor on him put     The napless vesture of humility;     Nor, showing, as the manner is, his wounds     To th' people, beg their stinking breaths.   SICINIUS. 'Tis right.   BRUTUS. It was his word. O, he would miss it rather     Than carry it but by the suit of the gentry to him     And the desire of the nobles.   SICINIUS. I wish no better     Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it     In execution.   BRUTUS. 'Tis most like he will.   SICINIUS. It shall be to him then as our good wills:     A sure destruction.   BRUTUS. 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's power he would     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.   SICINIUS. This, as you say, suggested     At some time when his soaring insolence     Shall touch the people- which time shall not want,     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.                             Enter A MESSENGER    BRUTUS. What's the matter?   MESSENGER. 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; matrons flung gloves,     Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchers,     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.   BRUTUS. Let's to the Capitol,     And carry with us ears and eyes for th' time,     But hearts for the event.   SICINIUS. Have with you.                                Exeunt     SCENE II. Rome. The Capitol  Enter two OFFICERS, to lay cushions, as it were in the Capitol    FIRST OFFICER. Come, come, they are almost here. How many stand for     consulships?   SECOND OFFICER. Three, they say; but 'tis thought of every one     Coriolanus will carry it.   FIRST OFFICER. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud and     loves not the common people.   SECOND OFFICER. Faith, 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 lets them plainly     see't.   FIRST OFFICER. 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.   SECOND OFFICER. 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 further     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 car that heard it.   FIRST OFFICER. No more of him; he's a worthy man. Make way, they     are coming.           A sennet. Enter the PATRICIANS and the TRIBUNES          OF THE PEOPLE, LICTORS before them; CORIOLANUS,             MENENIUS, COMINIUS the Consul. SICINIUS and                BRUTUS take their places by themselves.                          CORIOLANUS stands    MENENIUS. 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,     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 met here both to thank and to remember     With honours like himself.                 [CORIOLANUS sits]   FIRST SENATOR. Speak, good Cominius.     Leave nothing out for length, and make us think     Rather our state's defective for requital     Than we to stretch it out. Masters o' th' people,     We do request your kindest ears; and, after,     Your loving motion toward the common body,     To yield what passes here.   SICINIUS. We are convented     Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts     Inclinable to honour and advance     The theme of our assembly.   BRUTUS. 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.   MENENIUS. That's off, that's off;     I would you rather had been silent. Please you     To hear Cominius speak?   BRUTUS. Most willingly.     But yet my caution was more pertinent     Than the rebuke you give it.   MENENIUS. 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.   FIRST SENATOR. Sit, Coriolanus, never shame to hear     What you have nobly done.   CORIOLANUS. Your Honours' pardon.     I had rather have my wounds to heal again     Than hear say how I got them.   BRUTUS. Sir, I hope     My words disbench'd you not.   CORIOLANUS. 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-   MENENIUS. Pray now, sit down.   CORIOLANUS. 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   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 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 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 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 re-enforcement 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-quick'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.   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 pleas'd     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 a part     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 th' unaching scars which I should hide,     As if I had receiv'd 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. Cornets. Then 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 th' market-place     I know they do attend us.                             Exeunt     SCENE III. Rome. The Forum  Enter seven or eight citizens    FIRST CITIZEN. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to     deny him.   SECOND CITIZEN. We may, sir, if we will.   THIRD CITIZEN. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a     power that we have no power to do; for if he show 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.   FIRST CITIZEN. 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.   THIRD CITIZEN. We have been call'd so of many; not that our heads     are some brown, some black, some abram, some bald, but that our     wits are so diversely colour'd; 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' th' compass.   SECOND CITIZEN. Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would     fly?   THIRD CITIZEN. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's     will- 'tis strongly wedg'd up in a block-head; but if it were at     liberty 'twould sure southward.   SECOND CITIZEN. Why that way?   THIRD CITIZEN. 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.   SECOND CITIZEN. YOU are never without your tricks; you may, you     may.   THIRD CITIZEN. Are you all resolv'd 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, in a gown of humility,                                with 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.                         Exeunt citizens   MENENIUS. O sir, you are not right; have you not known     The worthiest men have done't?   CORIOLANUS. What must I say?     'I pray, sir'- Plague upon't! I cannot bring     My tongue to such a pace. 'Look, sir, my wounds     I got them in my country's service, when     Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran     From th' noise of our own drums.'   MENENIUS. O me, the gods!     You must not speak of that. You must desire them     To think upon you.   CORIOLANUS. Think upon me? Hang 'em!     I would they would forget me, like the virtues     Which our divines lose by 'em.   MENENIUS. You'll mar all.     I'll leave you. Pray you speak to 'em, I pray you,     In wholesome manner.                                    Exit                         Re-enter three of the citizens    CORIOLANUS. Bid them wash their faces     And keep their teeth clean. So, here comes a brace.     You know the cause, sir, of my standing here.   THIRD CITIZEN. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.   CORIOLANUS. Mine own desert.   SECOND CITIZEN. Your own desert?   CORIOLANUS. Ay, not mine own desire.   THIRD CITIZEN. How, not your own desire?   CORIOLANUS. No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor     with begging.   THIRD CITIZEN. YOU MUST think, if we give you anything, we hope to     gain by you.   CORIOLANUS. Well then, I pray, your price o' th' consulship?   FIRST CITIZEN. The price is to ask it kindly.   CORIOLANUS. Kindly, sir, I pray let me ha't. I have wounds to show     you, which shall be yours in private. Your good voice, sir; what     say you?   SECOND CITIZEN. You shall ha' it, worthy sir.   CORIOLANUS. A match, sir. There's in all two worthy voices begg'd.     I have your alms. Adieu.   THIRD CITIZEN. But this is something odd.   SECOND CITIZEN. An 'twere to give again- but 'tis no matter.                                        Exeunt the three citizens                        Re-enter two other citizens    CORIOLANUS. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your     voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown.   FOURTH CITIZEN. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you     have not deserved nobly.   CORIOLANUS. Your enigma?   FOURTH CITIZEN. You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have     been a rod to her friends. You have not indeed loved the common     people.   CORIOLANUS. You should account me the more virtuous, that I have     not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my sworn     brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a     condition they account gentle; and since the wisdom of their     choice is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise     the insinuating nod and be off to them most counterfeitly. That     is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man     and give it bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you I     may be consul.   FIFTH CITIZEN. We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give     you our voices heartily.   FOURTH CITIZEN. You have received many wounds for your country.   CORIOLANUS. I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I     will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no farther.   BOTH CITIZENS. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!                                                  Exeunt citizens   CORIOLANUS. Most sweet voices!     Better it is to die, better to starve,     Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.     Why in this wolvish toge should I stand here     To beg of Hob and Dick that do appear     Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to't.     What custom wills, in all things should we do't,     The dust on antique time would lie unswept,     And mountainous error be too highly heap'd     For truth to o'erpeer. Rather than fool it so,     Let the high office and the honour go     To one that would do thus. I am half through:     The one part suffered, the other will I do.                        Re-enter three citizens more      Here come moe voices.     Your voices. For your voices I have fought;     Watch'd for your voices; for your voices bear     Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six     I have seen and heard of; for your voices have     Done many things, some less, some more. Your voices?     Indeed, I would be consul.   SIXTH CITIZEN. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest     man's voice.   SEVENTH CITIZEN. Therefore let him be consul. The gods give him     joy, and make him good friend to the people!   ALL. Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul!                                                  Exeunt citizens   CORIOLANUS. Worthy voices!               Re-enter MENENIUS with BRUTUS and SICINIUS    MENENIUS. You have stood your limitation, and the tribunes     Endue you with the people's voice. Remains     That, in th' official marks invested, you     Anon do meet the Senate.   CORIOLANUS. Is this done?   SICINIUS. The custom of request you have discharg'd.     The people do admit you, and are summon'd     To meet anon, upon your approbation.   CORIOLANUS. Where? At the Senate House?   SICINIUS. There, Coriolanus.   CORIOLANUS. May I change these garments?   SICINIUS. You may, sir.   CORIOLANUS. That I'll straight do, and, knowing myself again,     Repair to th' Senate House.   MENENIUS. I'll keep you company. Will you along?   BRUTUS. We stay here for the people.   SICINIUS. Fare you well.                                   Exeunt CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS     He has it now; and by his looks methinks     'Tis warm at's heart.   BRUTUS. With a proud heart he wore     His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people?                              Re-enter citizens    SICINIUS. How now, my masters! Have you chose this man?   FIRST CITIZEN. He has our voices, sir.   BRUTUS. We pray the gods he may deserve your loves.   SECOND CITIZEN. Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice,     He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices.   THIRD CITIZEN. Certainly;     He flouted us downright.   FIRST CITIZEN. No, 'tis his kind of speech- he did not mock us.   SECOND CITIZEN. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says     He us'd us scornfully. He should have show'd us     His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for's country.   SICINIUS. Why, so he did, I am sure.   ALL. No, no; no man saw 'em.   THIRD CITIZEN. He said he had wounds which he could show in       private,     And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,     'I would be consul,' says he; 'aged custom     But by your voices will not so permit me;     Your voices therefore.' When we granted that,     Here was 'I thank you for your voices. Thank you,     Your most sweet voices. Now you have left your voices,     I have no further with you.' Was not this mockery?   SICINIUS. Why either were you ignorant to see't,     Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness     To yield your voices?   BRUTUS. Could you not have told him-     As you were lesson'd- when he had no power     But was a petty servant to the state,     He was your enemy; ever spake against     Your liberties and the charters that you bear     I' th' body of the weal; and now, arriving     A place of potency and sway o' th' state,     If he should still malignantly remain     Fast foe to th' plebeii, your voices might     Be curses to yourselves? You should have said     That as his worthy deeds did claim no less     Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature     Would think upon you for your voices, and     Translate his malice towards you into love,     Standing your friendly lord.   SICINIUS. Thus to have said,     As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit     And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd     Either his gracious promise, which you might,     As cause had call'd you up, have held him to;     Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,     Which easily endures not article     Tying him to aught. So, putting him to rage,     You should have ta'en th' advantage of his choler     And pass'd him unelected.   BRUTUS. Did you perceive     He did solicit you in free contempt     When he did need your loves; and do you think     That his contempt shall not be bruising to you     When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies     No heart among you? Or had you tongues to cry     Against the rectorship of judgment?   SICINIUS. Have you     Ere now denied the asker, and now again,     Of him that did not ask but mock, bestow     Your su'd-for tongues?   THIRD CITIZEN. He's not confirm'd: we may deny him yet.   SECOND CITIZENS. And will deny him;     I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.   FIRST CITIZEN. I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece     'em.   BRUTUS. Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends     They have chose a consul that will from them take     Their liberties, make them of no more voice     Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking     As therefore kept to do so.   SICINIUS. Let them assemble;     And, on a safer judgment, all revoke     Your ignorant election. Enforce his pride     And his old hate unto you; besides, forget not     With what contempt he wore the humble weed;     How in his suit he scorn'd you; but your loves,     Thinking upon his services, took from you     Th' apprehension of his present portance,     Which, most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion     After the inveterate hate he bears you.   BRUTUS. Lay     A fault on us, your tribunes, that we labour'd,     No impediment between, but that you must     Cast your election on him.   SICINIUS. Say you chose him     More after our commandment than as guided     By your own true affections; and that your minds,     Pre-occupied with what you rather must do     Than what you should, made you against the grain     To voice him consul. Lay the fault on us.   BRUTUS. Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you,     How youngly he began to serve his country,     How long continued; and what stock he springs of-     The noble house o' th' Marcians; from whence came     That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,     Who, after great Hostilius, here was king;     Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,     That our best water brought by conduits hither;     And Censorinus, nobly named so,     Twice being by the people chosen censor,     Was his great ancestor.   SICINIUS. One thus descended,     That hath beside well in his person wrought     To be set high in place, we did commend     To your remembrances; but you have found,     Scaling his present bearing with his past,     That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke     Your sudden approbation.   BRUTUS. Say you ne'er had done't-     Harp on that still- but by our putting on;     And presently, when you have drawn your number,     Repair to th' Capitol.   CITIZENS. will will so; almost all     Repent in their election.                   Exeunt plebeians   BRUTUS. Let them go on;     This mutiny were better put in hazard     Than stay, past doubt, for greater.     If, as his nature is, he fall in rage     With their refusal, both observe and answer     The vantage of his anger.   SICINIUS. To th' Capitol, come.     We will be there before the stream o' th' people;     And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,     Which we have goaded onward.                          Exeunt     ACT III. SCENE I. Rome. A street  Cornets. Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, all the GENTRY, COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other SENATORS    CORIOLANUS. Tullus Aufidius, then, had made new head?   LARTIUS. He had, my lord; and that it was which caus'd     Our swifter composition.   CORIOLANUS. So then the Volsces stand but as at first,     Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road     Upon's again.   COMINIUS. They are worn, Lord Consul, so     That we shall hardly in our ages see     Their banners wave again.   CORIOLANUS. Saw you Aufidius?   LARTIUS. On safeguard he came to me, and did curse     Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely     Yielded the town. He is retir'd to Antium.   CORIOLANUS. Spoke he of me?   LARTIUS. He did, my lord.   CORIOLANUS. How? What?   LARTIUS. How often he had met you, sword to sword;     That of all things upon the earth he hated     Your person most; that he would pawn his fortunes     To hopeless restitution, so he might     Be call'd your vanquisher.   CORIOLANUS. At Antium lives he?   LARTIUS. At Antium.   CORIOLANUS. I wish I had a cause to seek him there,     To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home.                         Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS      Behold, these are the tribunes of the people,     The tongues o' th' common mouth. I do despise them,     For they do prank them in authority,     Against all noble sufferance.   SICINIUS. Pass no further.   CORIOLANUS. Ha! What is that?   BRUTUS. It will be dangerous to go on- no further.   CORIOLANUS. What makes this change?   MENENIUS. The matter?   COMINIUS. Hath he not pass'd the noble and the common?   BRUTUS. Cominius, no.   CORIOLANUS. Have I had children's voices?   FIRST SENATOR. Tribunes, give way: he shall to th' market-place.   BRUTUS. The people are incens'd against him.   SICINIUS. Stop,     Or all will fall in broil.   CORIOLANUS. Are these your herd?     Must these have voices, that can yield them now     And straight disclaim their tongues? What are your offices?     You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth?     Have you not set them on?   MENENIUS. Be calm, be calm.   CORIOLANUS. It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot,     To curb the will of the nobility;     Suffer't, and live with such as cannot rule     Nor ever will be rul'd.   BRUTUS. Call't not a plot.     The people cry you mock'd them; and of late,     When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd;     Scandal'd the suppliants for the people, call'd them     Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.   CORIOLANUS. Why, this was known before.   BRUTUS. Not to them all.   CORIOLANUS. Have you inform'd them sithence?   BRUTUS. How? I inform them!   COMINIUS. You are like to do such business.   BRUTUS. Not unlike     Each way to better yours.   CORIOLANUS. Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds,     Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me     Your fellow tribune.   SICINIUS. You show too much of that     For which the people stir; if you will pass     To where you are bound, you must enquire your way,     Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit,     Or never be so noble as a consul,     Nor yoke with him for tribune.   MENENIUS. Let's be calm.   COMINIUS. The people are abus'd; set on. This palt'ring     Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus     Deserved this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely     I' th' plain way of his merit.   CORIOLANUS. Tell me of corn!     This was my speech, and I will speak't again-   MENENIUS. Not now, not now.   FIRST SENATOR. Not in this heat, sir, now.   CORIOLANUS. Now, as I live, I will.     My nobler friends, I crave their pardons.     For the mutable, rank-scented meiny, let them     Regard me as I do not flatter, and     Therein behold themselves. I say again,     In soothing them we nourish 'gainst our Senate     The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,     Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd, and scatter'd,     By mingling them with us, the honour'd number,     Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that     Which they have given to beggars.   MENENIUS. Well, no more.   FIRST SENATOR. No more words, we beseech you.   CORIOLANUS. How? no more!     As for my country I have shed my blood,     Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs     Coin words till their decay against those measles     Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought     The very way to catch them.   BRUTUS. You speak o' th' people     As if you were a god, to punish; not     A man of their infirmity.   SICINIUS. 'Twere well     We let the people know't.   MENENIUS. What, what? his choler?   CORIOLANUS. Choler!     Were I as patient as the midnight sleep,     By Jove, 'twould be my mind!   SICINIUS. It is a mind     That shall remain a poison where it is,     Not poison any further.   CORIOLANUS. Shall remain!     Hear you this Triton of the minnows? Mark you     His absolute 'shall'?   COMINIUS. 'Twas from the canon.   CORIOLANUS. 'Shall'!     O good but most unwise patricians! Why,     You grave but reckless senators, have you thus     Given Hydra here to choose an officer     That with his peremptory 'shall,' being but     The horn and noise o' th' monster's, wants not spirit     To say he'll turn your current in a ditch,     And make your channel his? If he have power,     Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake     Your dangerous lenity. If you are learn'd,     Be not as common fools; if you are not,     Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,     If they be senators; and they are no less,     When, both your voices blended, the great'st taste     Most palates theirs. They choose their magistrate;     And such a one as he, who puts his 'shall,'     His popular 'shall,' against a graver bench     Than ever frown'd in Greece. By Jove himself,     It makes the consuls base; and my soul aches     To know, when two authorities are up,     Neither supreme, how soon confusion     May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take     The one by th' other.   COMINIUS. Well, on to th' market-place.   CORIOLANUS. Whoever gave that counsel to give forth     The corn o' th' storehouse gratis, as 'twas us'd     Sometime in Greece-   MENENIUS. Well, well, no more of that.   CORIOLANUS. Though there the people had more absolute pow'r-     I say they nourish'd disobedience, fed     The ruin of the state.   BRUTUS. Why shall the people give     One that speaks thus their voice?   CORIOLANUS. I'll give my reasons,     More worthier than their voices. They know the corn     Was not our recompense, resting well assur'd     They ne'er did service for't; being press'd to th' war     Even when the navel of the state was touch'd,     They would not thread the gates. This kind of service     Did not deserve corn gratis. Being i' th' war,     Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd     Most valour, spoke not for them. Th' accusation     Which they have often made against the Senate,     All cause unborn, could never be the native     Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?     How shall this bosom multiplied digest     The Senate's courtesy? Let deeds express     What's like to be their words: 'We did request it;     We are the greater poll, and in true fear     They gave us our demands.' Thus we debase     The nature of our seats, and make the rabble     Call our cares fears; which will in time     Break ope the locks o' th' Senate and bring in     The crows to peck the eagles.   MENENIUS. Come, enough.   BRUTUS. Enough, with over measure.   CORIOLANUS. No, take more.     What may be sworn by, both divine and human,     Seal what I end withal! This double worship,     Where one part does disdain with cause, the other     Insult without all reason; where gentry, title, wisdom,     Cannot conclude but by the yea and no     Of general ignorance- it must omit     Real necessities, and give way the while     To unstable slightness. Purpose so barr'd, it follows     Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech you-     You that will be less fearful than discreet;     That love the fundamental part of state     More than you doubt the change on't; that prefer     A noble life before a long, and wish     To jump a body with a dangerous physic     That's sure of death without it- at once pluck out     The multitudinous tongue; let them not lick     The sweet which is their poison. Your dishonour     Mangles true judgment, and bereaves the state     Of that integrity which should become't,     Not having the power to do the good it would,     For th' ill which doth control't.   BRUTUS. Has said enough.   SICINIUS. Has spoken like a traitor and shall answer     As traitors do.   CORIOLANUS. Thou wretch, despite o'erwhelm thee!     What should the people do with these bald tribunes,     On whom depending, their obedience fails     To the greater bench? In a rebellion,     When what's not meet, but what must be, was law,     Then were they chosen; in a better hour     Let what is meet be said it must be meet,     And throw their power i' th' dust.   BRUTUS. Manifest treason!   SICINIUS. This a consul? No.   BRUTUS. The aediles, ho!                             Enter an AEDILE      Let him be apprehended.   SICINIUS. Go call the people,  [Exit AEDILE]  in whose name myself     Attach thee as a traitorous innovator,     A foe to th' public weal. Obey, I charge thee,     And follow to thine answer.   CORIOLANUS. Hence, old goat!   PATRICIANS. We'll surety him.   COMINIUS. Ag'd sir, hands off.   CORIOLANUS. Hence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bones     Out of thy garments.   SICINIUS. Help, ye citizens!                Enter a rabble of plebeians, with the AEDILES    MENENIUS. On both sides more respect.   SICINIUS. Here's he that would take from you all your power.   BRUTUS. Seize him, aediles.     PLEBEIANS. Down with him! down with him!   SECOND SENATOR. Weapons, weapons, weapons!                               [They all bustle about CORIOLANUS]   ALL. Tribunes! patricians! citizens! What, ho! Sicinius!     Brutus! Coriolanus! Citizens!   PATRICIANS. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace!   MENENIUS. What is about to be? I am out of breath;     Confusion's near; I cannot speak. You tribunes     To th' people- Coriolanus, patience!     Speak, good Sicinius.   SICINIUS. Hear me, people; peace!   PLEBEIANS. Let's hear our tribune. Peace! Speak, speak, speak.   SICINIUS. You are at point to lose your liberties.     Marcius would have all from you; Marcius,     Whom late you have nam'd for consul.   MENENIUS. Fie, fie, fie!     This is the way to kindle, not to quench.   FIRST SENATOR. To unbuild the city, and to lay all flat.   SICINIUS. What is the city but the people?   PLEBEIANS. True,     The people are the city.   BRUTUS. By the consent of all we were establish'd     The people's magistrates.   PLEBEIANS. You so remain.   MENENIUS. And so are like to do.   COMINIUS. That is the way to lay the city flat,     To bring the roof to the foundation,     And bury all which yet distinctly ranges     In heaps and piles of ruin.   SICINIUS. This deserves death.   BRUTUS. Or let us stand to our authority     Or let us lose it. We do here pronounce,     Upon the part o' th' people, in whose power     We were elected theirs: Marcius is worthy     Of present death.   SICINIUS. Therefore lay hold of him;     Bear him to th' rock Tarpeian, and from thence     Into destruction cast him.   BRUTUS. AEdiles, seize him.   PLEBEIANS. Yield, Marcius, yield.   MENENIUS. Hear me one word; beseech you, Tribunes,     Hear me but a word.   AEDILES. Peace, peace!   MENENIUS. Be that you seem, truly your country's friend,     And temp'rately proceed to what you would     Thus violently redress.   BRUTUS. Sir, those cold ways,     That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous     Where the disease is violent. Lay hands upon him     And bear him to the rock.                                     [CORIOLANUS draws his sword]   CORIOLANUS. No: I'll die here.     There's some among you have beheld me fighting;     Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.   MENENIUS. Down with that sword! Tribunes, withdraw awhile.   BRUTUS. Lay hands upon him.   MENENIUS. Help Marcius, help,     You that be noble; help him, young and old.   PLEBEIANS. Down with him, down with him!                       [In this mutiny the TRIBUNES, the AEDILES,                                      and the people are beat in]   MENENIUS. Go, get you to your house; be gone, away.     All will be nought else.   SECOND SENATOR. Get you gone.   CORIOLANUS. Stand fast;     We have as many friends as enemies.   MENENIUS. Shall it be put to that?   FIRST SENATOR. The gods forbid!     I prithee, noble friend, home to thy house;     Leave us to cure this cause.   MENENIUS. For 'tis a sore upon us     You cannot tent yourself; be gone, beseech you.   COMINIUS. Come, sir, along with us.   CORIOLANUS. I would they were barbarians, as they are,     Though in Rome litter'd; not Romans, as they are not,     Though calved i' th' porch o' th' Capitol.   MENENIUS. Be gone.     Put not your worthy rage into your tongue;     One time will owe another.   CORIOLANUS. On fair ground     I could beat forty of them.   MENENIUS. I could myself     Take up a brace o' th' best of them; yea, the two tribunes.   COMINIUS. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic,     And manhood is call'd foolery when it stands     Against a falling fabric. Will you hence,     Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend     Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear     What they are us'd to bear.   MENENIUS. Pray you be gone.     I'll try whether my old wit be in request     With those that have but little; this must be patch'd     With cloth of any colour.   COMINIUS. Nay, come away.                      Exeunt CORIOLANUS and COMINIUS, with others   PATRICIANS. This man has marr'd his fortune.   MENENIUS. His nature is too noble for the world:     He would not flatter Neptune for his trident,     Or Jove for's power to thunder. His heart's his mouth;     What his breast forges, that his tongue must vent;     And, being angry, does forget that ever     He heard the name of death.                 [A noise within]     Here's goodly work!   PATRICIANS. I would they were a-bed.   MENENIUS. I would they were in Tiber.     What the vengeance, could he not speak 'em fair?              Re-enter BRUTUS and SICINIUS, the rabble again    SICINIUS. Where is this viper     That would depopulate the city and     Be every man himself?   MENENIUS. You worthy Tribunes-   SICINIUS. He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock     With rigorous hands; he hath resisted law,     And therefore law shall scorn him further trial     Than the severity of the public power,     Which he so sets at nought.   FIRST CITIZEN. He shall well know     The noble tribunes are the people's mouths,     And we their hands.   PLEBEIANS. He shall, sure on't.   MENENIUS. Sir, sir-   SICINIUS. Peace!   MENENIUS. Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt     With modest warrant.   SICINIUS. Sir, how comes't that you     Have holp to make this rescue?   MENENIUS. Hear me speak.     As I do know the consul's worthiness,     So can I name his faults.   SICINIUS. Consul! What consul?   MENENIUS. The consul Coriolanus.   BRUTUS. He consul!   PLEBEIANS. No, no, no, no, no.   MENENIUS. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people,     I may be heard, I would crave a word or two;     The which shall turn you to no further harm     Than so much loss of time.   SICINIUS. Speak briefly, then,     For we are peremptory to dispatch     This viperous traitor; to eject him hence     Were but one danger, and to keep him here     Our certain death; therefore it is decreed     He dies to-night.   MENENIUS. Now the good gods forbid     That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude     Towards her deserved children is enroll'd     In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dam     Should now eat up her own!   SICINIUS. He's a disease that must be cut away.   MENENIUS. O, he's a limb that has but a disease-     Mortal, to cut it off: to cure it, easy.     What has he done to Rome that's worthy death?     Killing our enemies, the blood he hath lost-     Which I dare vouch is more than that he hath     By many an ounce- he dropt it for his country;     And what is left, to lose it by his country     Were to us all that do't and suffer it     A brand to th' end o' th' world.   SICINIUS. This is clean kam.   BRUTUS. Merely awry. When he did love his country,     It honour'd him.   SICINIUS. The service of the foot,     Being once gangren'd, is not then respected     For what before it was.   BRUTUS. We'll hear no more.     Pursue him to his house and pluck him thence,     Lest his infection, being of catching nature,     Spread further.   MENENIUS. One word more, one word     This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find     The harm of unscann'd swiftness, will, too late,     Tie leaden pounds to's heels. Proceed by process,     Lest parties- as he is belov'd- break out,     And sack great Rome with Romans.   BRUTUS. If it were so-   SICINIUS. What do ye talk?     Have we not had a taste of his obedience-     Our aediles smote, ourselves resisted? Come!   MENENIUS. Consider this: he has been bred i' th' wars     Since 'a could draw a sword, and is ill school'd     In bolted language; meal and bran together     He throws without distinction. Give me leave,     I'll go to him and undertake to bring him     Where he shall answer by a lawful form,     In peace, to his utmost peril.   FIRST SENATOR. Noble Tribunes,     It is the humane way; the other course     Will prove too bloody, and the end of it     Unknown to the beginning.   SICINIUS. Noble Menenius,     Be you then as the people's officer.     Masters, lay down your weapons.   BRUTUS. Go not home.   SICINIUS. Meet on the market-place. We'll attend you there;     Where, if you bring not Marcius, we'll proceed     In our first way.   MENENIUS. I'll bring him to you.     [To the SENATORS]  Let me desire your company; he must come,     Or what is worst will follow.   FIRST SENATOR. Pray you let's to him.                   Exeunt     SCENE II. Rome. The house of CORIOLANUS  Enter CORIOLANUS with NOBLES    CORIOLANUS. Let them pull all about mine ears, present me     Death on the wheel or at wild horses' heels;     Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock,     That the precipitation might down stretch     Below the beam of sight; yet will I still     Be thus to them.   FIRST PATRICIAN. You do the nobler.   CORIOLANUS. I muse my mother     Does not approve me further, who was wont     To call them woollen vassals, things created     To buy and sell with groats; to show bare heads     In congregations, to yawn, be still, and wonder,     When one but of my ordinance stood up     To speak of peace or war.                            Enter VOLUMNIA      I talk of you:     Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me     False to my nature? Rather say I play     The man I am.   VOLUMNIA. O, sir, sir, sir,     I would have had you put your power well on     Before you had worn it out.   CORIOLANUS. Let go.   VOLUMNIA. You might have been enough the man you are     With striving less to be so; lesser had been     The thwartings of your dispositions, if     You had not show'd them how ye were dispos'd,     Ere they lack'd power to cross you.   CORIOLANUS. Let them hang.   VOLUMNIA. Ay, and burn too.                      Enter MENENIUS with the SENATORS    MENENIUS. Come, come, you have been too rough, something too rough;     You must return and mend it.   FIRST SENATOR. There's no remedy,     Unless, by not so doing, our good city     Cleave in the midst and perish.   VOLUMNIA. Pray be counsell'd;     I have a heart as little apt as yours,     But yet a brain that leads my use of anger     To better vantage.   MENENIUS. Well said, noble woman!     Before he should thus stoop to th' herd, but that     The violent fit o' th' time craves it as physic     For the whole state, I would put mine armour on,     Which I can scarcely bear.   CORIOLANUS. What must I do?   MENENIUS. Return to th' tribunes.   CORIOLANUS. Well, what then, what then?   MENENIUS. Repent what you have spoke.   CORIOLANUS. For them! I cannot do it to the gods;     Must I then do't to them?   VOLUMNIA. You are too absolute;     Though therein you can never be too noble     But when extremities speak. I have heard you say     Honour and policy, like unsever'd friends,     I' th' war do grow together; grant that, and tell me     In peace what each of them by th' other lose     That they combine not there.   CORIOLANUS. Tush, tush!   MENENIUS. A good demand.   VOLUMNIA. If it be honour in your wars to seem     The same you are not, which for your best ends     You adopt your policy, how is it less or worse     That it shall hold companionship in peace     With honour as in war; since that to both     It stands in like request?   CORIOLANUS. Why force you this?   VOLUMNIA. Because that now it lies you on to speak     To th' people, not by your own instruction,     Nor by th' matter which your heart prompts you,     But with such words that are but roted in     Your tongue, though but bastards and syllables     Of no allowance to your bosom's truth.     Now, this no more dishonours you at all     Than to take in a town with gentle words,     Which else would put you to your fortune and     The hazard of much blood.     I would dissemble with my nature where     My fortunes and my friends at stake requir'd     I should do so in honour. I am in this     Your wife, your son, these senators, the nobles;     And you will rather show our general louts     How you can frown, than spend a fawn upon 'em     For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard     Of what that want might ruin.   MENENIUS. Noble lady!     Come, go with us, speak fair; you may salve so,     Not what is dangerous present, but the los     Of what is past.   VOLUMNIA. I prithee now, My son,     Go to them with this bonnet in thy hand;     And thus far having stretch'd it- here be with them-     Thy knee bussing the stones- for in such busines     Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th' ignorant     More learned than the ears- waving thy head,     Which often thus correcting thy-stout heart,     Now humble as the ripest mulberry     That will not hold the handling. Or say to them     Thou art their soldier and, being bred in broils,     Hast not the soft way which, thou dost confess,     Were fit for thee to use, as they to claim,     In asking their good loves; but thou wilt frame     Thyself, forsooth, hereafter theirs, so far     As thou hast power and person.   MENENIUS. This but done     Even as she speaks, why, their hearts were yours;     For they have pardons, being ask'd, as free     As words to little purpose.   VOLUMNIA. Prithee now,     Go, and be rul'd; although I know thou hadst rather     Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf     Than flatter him in a bower.                             Enter COMINIUS      Here is Cominius.   COMINIUS. I have been i' th' market-place; and, sir, 'tis fit     You make strong party, or defend yourself     By calmness or by absence; all's in anger.   MENENIUS. Only fair speech.   COMINIUS. I think 'twill serve, if he     Can thereto frame his spirit.   VOLUMNIA. He must and will.     Prithee now, say you will, and go about it.   CORIOLANUS. Must I go show them my unbarb'd sconce? Must I     With my base tongue give to my noble heart     A lie that it must bear? Well, I will do't;     Yet, were there but this single plot to lose,     This mould of Marcius, they to dust should grind it,     And throw't against the wind. To th' market-place!     You have put me now to such a part which never     I shall discharge to th' life.   COMINIUS. Come, come, we'll prompt you.   VOLUMNIA. I prithee now, sweet son, as thou hast said     My praises made thee first a soldier, so,     To have my praise for this, perform a part     Thou hast not done before.   CORIOLANUS. Well, I must do't.     Away, my disposition, and possess me     Some harlot's spirit! My throat of war be turn'd,     Which quier'd with my drum, into a pipe     Small as an eunuch or the virgin voice     That babies lulls asleep! The smiles of knaves     Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys' tears take up     The glasses of my sight! A beggar's tongue     Make motion through my lips, and my arm'd knees,     Who bow'd but in my stirrup, bend like his     That hath receiv'd an alms! I will not do't,     Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth,     And by my body's action teach my mind     A most inherent baseness.   VOLUMNIA. At thy choice, then.     To beg of thee, it is my more dishonour     Than thou of them. Come all to ruin. Let     Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear     Thy dangerous stoutness; for I mock at death     With as big heart as thou. Do as thou list.     Thy valiantness was mine, thou suck'dst it from me;     But owe thy pride thyself.   CORIOLANUS. Pray be content.     Mother, I am going to the market-place;     Chide me no more. I'll mountebank their loves,     Cog their hearts from them, and come home belov'd     Of all the trades in Rome. Look, I am going.     Commend me to my wife. I'll return consul,     Or never trust to what my tongue can do     I' th' way of flattery further.   VOLUMNIA. Do your will.                                   Exit   COMINIUS. Away! The tribunes do attend you. Arm yourself     To answer mildly; for they are prepar'd     With accusations, as I hear, more strong     Than are upon you yet.   CORIOLANUS. The word is 'mildly.' Pray you let us go.     Let them accuse me by invention; I     Will answer in mine honour.   MENENIUS. Ay, but mildly.   CORIOLANUS. Well, mildly be it then- mildly.            Exeunt     SCENE III. Rome. The Forum  Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS    BRUTUS. In this point charge him home, that he affects     Tyrannical power. If he evade us there,     Enforce him with his envy to the people,     And that the spoil got on the Antiates     Was ne'er distributed.                             Enter an AEDILE      What, will he come?   AEDILE. He's coming.   BRUTUS. How accompanied?   AEDILE. With old Menenius, and those senators     That always favour'd him.   SICINIUS. Have you a catalogue     Of all the voices that we have procur'd,     Set down by th' poll?   AEDILE. I have; 'tis ready.   SICINIUS. Have you corrected them by tribes?   AEDILE. I have.   SICINIUS. Assemble presently the people hither;     And when they hear me say 'It shall be so     I' th' right and strength o' th' commons' be it either     For death, for fine, or banishment, then let them,     If I say fine, cry 'Fine!'- if death, cry 'Death!'     Insisting on the old prerogative     And power i' th' truth o' th' cause.   AEDILE. I shall inform them.   BRUTUS. And when such time they have begun to cry,     Let them not cease, but with a din confus'd     Enforce the present execution     Of what we chance to sentence.   AEDILE. Very well.   SICINIUS. Make them be strong, and ready for this hint,     When we shall hap to give't them.   BRUTUS. Go about it.                               Exit AEDILE     Put him to choler straight. He hath been us'd     Ever to conquer, and to have his worth     Of contradiction; being once chaf'd, he cannot     Be rein'd again to temperance; then he speaks     What's in his heart, and that is there which looks     With us to break his neck.            Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS and COMINIUS, with others    SICINIUS. Well, here he comes.   MENENIUS. Calmly, I do beseech you.   CORIOLANUS. Ay, as an ostler, that for th' poorest piece     Will bear the knave by th' volume. Th' honour'd gods     Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs of justice     Supplied with worthy men! plant love among's!     Throng our large temples with the shows of peace,     And not our streets with war!   FIRST SENATOR. Amen, amen!   MENENIUS. A noble wish.                    Re-enter the.AEDILE,with the plebeians    SICINIUS. Draw near, ye people.   AEDILE. List to your tribunes. Audience! peace, I say!   CORIOLANUS. First, hear me speak.   BOTH TRIBUNES. Well, say. Peace, ho!   CORIOLANUS. Shall I be charg'd no further than this present?     Must all determine here?   SICINIUS. I do demand,     If you submit you to the people's voices,     Allow their officers, and are content     To suffer lawful censure for such faults     As shall be prov'd upon you.   CORIOLANUS. I am content.   MENENIUS. Lo, citizens, he says he is content.     The warlike service he has done, consider; think     Upon the wounds his body bears, which show     Like graves i' th' holy churchyard.   CORIOLANUS. Scratches with briers,     Scars to move laughter only.   MENENIUS. Consider further,     That when he speaks not like a citizen,     You find him like a soldier; do not take     His rougher accents for malicious sounds,     But, as I say, such as become a soldier     Rather than envy you.   COMINIUS. Well, well! No more.   CORIOLANUS. What is the matter,     That being pass'd for consul with full voice,     I am so dishonour'd that the very hour     You take it off again?   SICINIUS. Answer to us.   CORIOLANUS. Say then; 'tis true, I ought so.   SICINIUS. We charge you that you have contriv'd to take     From Rome all season'd office, and to wind     Yourself into a power tyrannical;     For which you are a traitor to the people.   CORIOLANUS. How- traitor?   MENENIUS. Nay, temperately! Your promise.   CORIOLANUS. The fires i' th' lowest hell fold in the people!     Call me their traitor! Thou injurious tribune!     Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths,     In thy hands clutch'd as many millions, in     Thy lying tongue both numbers, I would say     'Thou liest' unto thee with a voice as free     As I do pray the gods.   SICINIUS. Mark you this, people?   PLEBEIANS. To th' rock, to th' rock, with him!   SICINIUS. Peace!     We need not put new matter to his charge.     What you have seen him do and heard him speak,     Beating your officers, cursing yourselves,     Opposing laws with strokes, and here defying     Those whose great power must try him- even this,     So criminal and in such capital kind,     Deserves th' extremest death.   BRUTUS. But since he hath     Serv'd well for Rome-   CORIOLANUS. What do you prate of service?   BRUTUS. I talk of that that know it.   CORIOLANUS. You!   MENENIUS. Is this the promise that you made your mother?   COMINIUS. Know, I pray you-   CORIOLANUS. I'll know no further.     Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death,     Vagabond exile, flaying, pent to linger     But with a grain a day, I would not buy     Their mercy at the price of one fair word,     Nor check my courage for what they can give,     To have't with saying 'Good morrow.'   SICINIUS. For that he has-     As much as in him lies- from time to time     Envied against the people, seeking means     To pluck away their power; as now at last     Given hostile strokes, and that not in the presence     Of dreaded justice, but on the ministers     That do distribute it- in the name o' th' people,     And in the power of us the tribunes, we,     Ev'n from this instant, banish him our city,     In peril of precipitation     From off the rock Tarpeian, never more     To enter our Rome gates. I' th' people's name,     I say it shall be so.   PLEBEIANS. It shall be so, it shall be so! Let him away!     He's banish'd, and it shall be so.   COMINIUS. Hear me, my masters and my common friends-   SICINIUS. He's sentenc'd; no more hearing.   COMINIUS. Let me speak.     I have been consul, and can show for Rome     Her enemies' marks upon me. I do love     My country's good with a respect more tender,     More holy and profound, than mine own life,     My dear wife's estimate, her womb's increase     And treasure of my loins. Then if I would     Speak that-   SICINIUS. We know your drift. Speak what?   BRUTUS. There's no more to be said, but he is banish'd,     As enemy to the people and his country.     It shall be so.   PLEBEIANS. It shall be so, it shall be so.   CORIOLANUS. YOU common cry of curs, whose breath I hate     As reek o' th' rotten fens, whose loves I prize     As the dead carcasses of unburied men     That do corrupt my air- I banish you.     And here remain with your uncertainty!     Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts;     Your enemies, with nodding of their plumes,     Fan you into despair! Have the power still     To banish your defenders, till at length     Your ignorance- which finds not till it feels,     Making but reservation of yourselves     Still your own foes- deliver you     As most abated captives to some nation     That won you without blows! Despising     For you the city, thus I turn my back;     There is a world elsewhere.                                               Exeunt CORIOLANUS,                    COMINIUS, MENENIUS, with the other PATRICIANS   AEDILE. The people's enemy is gone, is gone!                         [They all shout and throw up their caps]   PLEBEIANS. Our enemy is banish'd, he is gone! Hoo-oo!   SICINIUS. Go see him out at gates, and follow him,     As he hath follow'd you, with all despite;     Give him deserv'd vexation. Let a guard     Attend us through the city.   PLEBEIANS. Come, come, let's see him out at gates; come!     The gods preserve our noble tribunes! Come.           Exeunt