Printable version of this page

The Tragedy of Coriolanus: Act 2 Scene 2

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

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,

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 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

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

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

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

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.

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' the 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 blest 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 offers to go away]

Nay, keep your place.

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.

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

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

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 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,

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,

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

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 timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd

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

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.

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 pleased

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 apart

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 the unaching scars which I should hide,

As if I had received 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 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.

BRUTUS

Come, we'll inform them

Of our proceedings here: on the marketplace,

I know, they do attend us.

[Exeunt]