ACT II SCENE II

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Coriolanus


ACT II SCENE II. The same. The Capitol.
[Enter two Officers, to lay cushions]
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 5
loves not the common people.
Second Officer Faith, there had been many great men that have
flattered 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, 10
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. 15
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 can render it him; and leaves
nothing undone that may fully discover him their 20
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, 25
having been supple and courteous to the people,
bonneted, without any further deed to have them at
an 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 30
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 is a worthy man: make way, they 35
are coming.
[ A sennet. Enter, with actors before them, COMINIUS the consul, MENENIUS, CORIOLANUS, Senators, SICINIUS and BRUTUS. The Senators take their places; the Tribunes take their Places by themselves. CORIOLANUS stands ]
MENENIUS Having determined 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 40
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 45
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.
First Senator Speak, good Cominius: 50
Leave nothing out for length, and make us think
Rather our state’s defective for requital
Than we to stretch it out.
[To the Tribunes]
Masters o’ the people,
We do request your kindest ears, and after, 55
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 60
The theme of our assembly.
BRUTUS Which the rather
We shall be blest to do, if he remember
A kinder value of the people than
He hath hereto prized them at. 65
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 70
Than the rebuke you give it.
MENENIUS He loves your people
But tie him not to be their bedfellow.
Worthy Cominius, speak.
[CORIOLANUS offers to go away]
Nay, keep your place. 75
First Senator Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear
What you have nobly done.
CORIOLANUS Your horror’s pardon:
I had rather have my wounds to heal again
Than hear say how I got them. 80
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 soothed not, therefore hurt not: but 85
your people,
I love them as they weigh.
MENENIUS Pray now, sit down.
CORIOLANUS I had rather have one scratch my head i’ the sun
When the alarum were struck than idly sit 90
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 95
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, 100
The man I speak of cannot in the world
Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought
Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,
Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight, 105
When with his Amazonian chin he drove
The bristled lips before him: be bestrid
An o’er-press’d Roman and i’ the consul’s view
Slew three opposers: Tarquin’s self he met,
And struck him on his knee: in that day’s feats, 110
When he might act the woman in the scene,
He proved best man i’ the field, and for his meed
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age
Man-enter’d thus, he waxed like a sea,
And in the brunt of seventeen battles since 115
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 120
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 125
The mortal gate of the city, which he painted
With shunless destiny; aidless came off,
And with a sudden reinforcement struck
Corioli like a planet: now all’s his:
When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce 130
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 135
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. 140
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 145
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. 150
[Re-enter CORIOLANUS]
MENENIUS The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased
To make thee consul.
CORIOLANUS I do owe them still
My life and services.
MENENIUS It then remains 155
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 160
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: 165
Pray you, go fit you to the custom and
Take to you, as your predecessors have,
Your honour with your form.
CORIOLANUS It is apart
That I shall blush in acting, and might well 170
Be taken from the people.
BRUTUS Mark you that?
CORIOLANUS To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus;
Show them the unaching scars which I should hide,
As if I had received them for the hire 175
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. 180
Senators To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!
[ Flourish of cornets. Exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS ]
BRUTUS You see how he intends to use the people.
SICINIUS May they perceive’s intent! He will require them,
As if he did contemn what he requested
Should be in them to give. 185
BRUTUS Come, we’ll inform them
Of our proceedings here: on the marketplace,
I know, they do attend us.
[Exeunt]

Next: Coriolanus, Act 2, Scene 3