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 He lurch'd 9 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 fell below his stem: his sword (death's stamp) Worthy man! 1 Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honours Which we devise him. Com. Our spoils he kick'd at ; And look'd upon things precious, as they were The common muck o'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. Men. Let him be call'd for. 1 Sen. Off. He doth appear. He's right noble; Call for Coriolanus. Re-enter CORIOLANUS. Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd To make thee consul. Cor. My life, and services. Men. I do owe them still It then remains, That you do speak to the people. Cor. I do beseech you, Let me o'erleap that custom; for I cannot Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them, For wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please my you, That I may pass this doing. Sic. Sir, the people 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 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 ourselves to be monstrous members. 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 stuck not to call us the 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 issue out of one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o' the compass. 2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge, my wit would fly? 3 Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will, 'tis strongly wedged up in a blockhead: 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 to help to get thee a wife. 2 Cit. You 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 would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man. Enter CORIOLANUS and MEnenius. Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices, that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown. 3 Cit. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly. Cor. Your enigma? 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, Here he comes, and in the gown of humility; mark that I have not been common in my love. I will, sir, his behaviour. We are not to say all together, but flatter my sworn brother the people, to earn a dearer to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account and by threes. He's to make his requests by parti-gentle and since the wisdom of their choice is culars: wherein every one of us has a single honour, rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise in giving him our own voices with our own tongues: the insinuating nod, and be off to them most countherefore, follow me, and I'll direct you how you terfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchshall go by him. ment of some popular man, and give it bountifully to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul. All. Content, content. Men. O sir, you are not right: have you not known The worthiest men have done it? Sic. Why, either, were you ignorant to see't? Bru. Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might Sic. Tying him to aught; so putting him to rage, Bru. Did you perceive, Sic. 3 Cit. He's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet. 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 as often beat for barking, As therefore kept to do so. Sic. Let them assemble; And, on a safer judgment, 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 The apprehension of his present portance 5, Which gibingly, ungravely he did fashion After the inveterate hate he bears you. More after our commandment, than as guided Bru. Ay, spare us not. Say, we read lectures to you, How youngly he began to serve his country, 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, Bru. Bru. To the Capitol: Sic. 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. [Exeunt. I crave their pardons: Therein behold themselves: I say again, Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd and By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; Men. Well, no more. Bru. Was not our recompence: resting well assur'd Did not deserve corn gratis: being i' the war, You speak o' the people, They gave us our demands: - Thus we debase As if you were a god to punish, not A man of their infirmity. Sic. We let the people know't. Men. Cor. Choler! 'Twere well, What, what? his choler? O good, but most unwise patricians, why, May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take Bru. Enough, with over-measure. No, take more: Cor. it must omit To unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows, You that will be less fearful than discreet; Bru. Cor. Thou wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee! ? Motive, no doubt, was Shakspeare's word. |