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 authority’s 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, silenced 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 Martius 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 scarves and handkerchiefs,

Upon him as he passed. 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

2.2 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 everyone 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 hath 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, 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 Sicinius and Brutus, the tribunes of the people, lictors before them; Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius the consul. ⌈The Patricians take their places and sit.⌉ Sicinius and Brutus 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

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 performed

By Martius Caius 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.

(To the tribunes) 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 blessed to do if he remember

A kinder value of the people than

He hath hereto prized 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

(To Coriolanus) 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 disbenched you not?

CORIOLANUS No, sir, yet oft

When blows have made me stay I fled from words.

You soothed 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 monstered.

Exit

MENENIUS Masters of the people,