The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love! Worthy Cominius, speak.-Nay, keep your place. or hate him, manifests the true knowledge he has [Coriolanus rises, and offers to go away. in their disposition; and, out of his noble carelessness, lets 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.

I Sen. Sit, Coriolanus: never shame to hear What you have nobly done.

Cor. Your honours' pardon;

I had rather have my wounds to heal again,
Than hear say how I got them.
Bru. Sir, I hope,

My words disbench'd you not.
Cor. No; sir: yet oft,

When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.
You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: but, your
I love them as they weigh.
[people,

2 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his coun-Men. Pray now, sit down. try: 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.

Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i'the When the alarum were struck, than idly sit [sun, To hear my nothings monster'd. [ exit Coriolanus. Men. Masters o' the people,

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.

616

Men. Having determin'd of the Volces, 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:

Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, [see,
(That's thousand to one good one,) when you now
He had rather venture all his limbs for honour,
Than one of his ears to hear it?--Proceed, Cominius.

Com. 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'er-press'd Roman, and i'the consul's view
Slew three oppressors: Tarquin's self he met,

Most reverend and grave elders, terefore, please And struck him on the knee: in that day's feats,

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'

you,

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

1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius:

Leave nothing out of length, and make us think,
Rather our states defective for requital,
Than 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. Poti

Sic. We are convented at clan yastan fo
Upon a pleasing treaty; and have hearts
Inclinable to honour and advance was 2
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 prized them at.

Men. That's off, that's off;

I would you rather had been silent: please you

To hear Cominius speak?

Bru. Most willingly;

But yet my caution was more pertinent,
Than the rebuke you give it.

Men. He loves your people;

But tie him not to be their bedfellow ;

When he might act the woman in the scene,
He prov'd 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 o'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 waves 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 o'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.

Men. Worthy man!

1 Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honWhich we devise him. [ours

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To make thee consul.

Cor. I do owe them still ok!

My life, and services.

Men. It then remains, sends ads sever ob ng That you do speak to the people. sin di toch Cor. 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
That I may pass this doing.
[you,

Sie. Sir, the people do gods I
Must have their voices; neither will they 'bate
One jot of ceremony.

Men. Put them not to't:- se sill of ringai.
Pray you, go fit you to the custom; and
Take to you, as your predecessors, have
Your honour with your form, jer su sle
Cor. It is a part

That I shall blush in acting, and might
ht well
Be taken from the people.org a day!
Bru, Mark you that?
[thus
Cor. To brag unto them. Thus I did, and
Show them the unaching scars, which I should
As if I had receiv'd them for the hire [hide,
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!
Mosespray n[flourish; then exeunt senators.
Bru. You see how he intends to use the people.
Sic. May they perceive his intent! He, that
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,

I know, they do attend us.

SCENE III. THE SAME. THE FORUM.

pant pour 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..

1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of. a little help will serve: for once, when we stood up about the corn, he himself struck not to call usthe 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 fly east, west,

issue out of oue skull, they wou one 'direct' way

north, south; and their consent should be at once to all the points of the compass. 2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge my wit would fly.

Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will, 'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head: but, if it were at liberty, 'twould, 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 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 w 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 altogether, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He's to make his requests by par ticular; 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 n The worthiest men

done 201

not

[known

cannot bring

Cor. What must I say net?

I pray, sir, plague upon't!" I
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 the of our own drums.

Menoise gods!

me,

You must not speak of that: you must, desire them To think upon you.

Cor.

I wohink up

me? Hang em!

would forget me, like the virtues

Which our divines lose by them. eina ni ya Men. You'll mar all;

[you,

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 show us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds and speak You know the 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 curselves to be monstrous members.

2 Cit. Your own desert? Cor. Ay, not

Mine own desire.

1 Cit. How! not your own de ire?

3 Cit. You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have been a rod to her friends; you have not, indeed, loved the common people.

Cor. 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 bountifully to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.

4 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; therefore give you our voices heartily.

and

3 Cit. You have received many wounds for your country.

Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.

Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

Cor. Most sweet voices!

[exeunt.

Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire, which first we do deserve.
Why in this woolvish gown 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 over-peer.-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 suffer'd, the other will I do.
Enter three other citizens.

Here comes more 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

Sic. The custom of request you have discharg'd: The people do admit you; and are summon'd To meet anon, upon your approbation.

Cor. Where? at the senate-house?

Sic. There, Coriolanus.

Cor. May I then change these garments?
Sic. You may, sir.

Cor. That I'll straight do; and knowing myself
Repair to the senate-house.
(again,
Men. I'll keep you company.-Will you along?
Bru. We stay here for the people.

Sic. Fare you well.

[exeunt Cor. and Men. He has it now; and, by his looks, methinks, 'Tis warm at his heart.

Bru. With a proud heart he wore His humble weeds: will you dismiss the people? Re-enter citizens.

Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose 1 Cit. He has our voices, sir. [this man? Bru. We pray the gods, he may deserve your loves. 2 Cit. Amen, sir: to my poor unworthy notice, He mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices. 3 Cit. Certainly, He flouted us downright.

[us.

1 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock 2 Cit. 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 his country. Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.

Cit. No; no man saw 'em. [several speak. 3 Cit. 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,
[voices,
Your most sweet voices: now you have left your
I have no further with you:'--was not this mockery?
Sic. Why, either you were ignorant to see't;
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
To yield your voices.

Bru. 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 the body of the weal; and now, arriving

A place of potency, and sway o'the state,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to the 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.

Sic. Thu to have said,

As you were fore-advised, had touch'd his spirit,
And try'd 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
Trying him to aught; so, putting him to rage,
You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.

Bru. 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 judgement?

Sic. Have you,

Ere now, denied the asker? and, now again,
On him, that did not ask, but mock, bestow
Your sued-for tongues?

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 Censerinus, darling of the people,
And nobly nam'd so, being censor twice,
Was his great ancestor.

Sic. 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

3 Cit. He's not confirm'd; we may deny him yet. Your sudden approbation.
2 Cit. And will deny him:

I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.

1 Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru. 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 so often beat for barking,
As therefore kept to do so.

Sic. Let them assemble:
And, on a safer judgement, 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

Bru. 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 the Capitol.

Cit. We will so: almost all
Repent in their election.

Bru. Let them go on;

[several speak. [exeunt citizens.

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.

Sic. To the Capitol:

Come; we'll be there before the stream o'the
people;

And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward.

III.

[exeunt,

Com. Hath he not pass'd the nobles, and the Bru. Cominius, no. [commons?

Cor. Have I had children's voices?

1 Sen. Tribunes, give way; he shall to the marketBru. The people are incens'd against him. [place. Sic. Stop,

Or ail will fall in broil?

Cor. 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 Have you not set them on?

Men. Be calm, be calm.

[teeth?

Sic. You show too much of that, For which the people stir. If you will pass To where you are bound, you must inquire your Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit; [way, Or never be so noble as a consul, Nor yoke with him for tribune. Men, Let's be calm. d curzaamd[palt'ring Com. The people are abus'd.-Set on.This Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely I' the plain way of his merit. My was f

Cor. Tell me of corn!

O, good, but most unwise, patricians, why,
You brave, 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'the monsters, 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 learned,
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 greatest 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 the other.

Com. Well,on to the market-place.
Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth
The corn o'the store-house gratis, as 'twas, us'd
Sometime in Greece,-

Men. Well, well, no more of that.

Cor. (Though there the people had more absoI say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed [lute power,)

Cor. Now as I live, I will. My nobler friends, The ruin of the state.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: From the Text of Johnson ...