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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
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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 ear 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
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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
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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。