Men.
Having determin'd of the Volscians, 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 Martius Coriolanus; whom
We meet here, both to thank, and to remember,
With honours like himself.

1 Sen.
Speak, good Cominius:
Leave nothing out for length, and make us think
Rather our state's defective for requital,
Than that we stretch it out. Masters o'th' people,
We do request your kindest ear, and after,
Your loving motion toward the common body,
To yield what passes here.

Sic.
We are convented
Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts
Inclinable to honour and advance
The theme of our assembly.

Bru.
Which the rather
We shall be blest to do, if he remember
A kinder value of the people, than
He hath hitherto priz'd them at.

Men.
That's off, that's off:
I would you rather had been silent: please you
To hear Cominius speak?

Bru.
Most willingly:

But yet my caution was more pertinent,
Than the rebuke you give it.

Men.
He loves your people,
But tye him not to be their bedfellow.
Worthy Cominius, speak. [Coriolanus rises, and offers to go away.
Nay, keep your place.

1 Sen.
Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear
What you have nobly done.

Cor.
Your honour's pardon:
I had rather have my wounds to heal again,
Than hear say how I got them.

Bru.
Sir, I hope
My words dis-bench'd you not.

Cor.
No, Sir; yet oft,
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.
You sooth not, therefore hurt not; but your people,
I love them as they weigh.

Men.
Pray now, sit down.

Cor.
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 Coriolanus.

Men.
Masters of the people,
Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter,
That's thousand to one good one, when you see
He had rather venture all his limbs for honour,
Than one of's ears to hear't? Proceed, Cominius.

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
Most dignifies the haver: if it be,
The man I speak of cannot, in the world,
Be singly counter-pois'd. At sixteen years,
When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought:
Beyond the mark of others:
And in the brunt of seventeen battles, since,
* ^noteHe lurcht all swords o'th' garland. For this last,

Before, and in Corioli, let me say
I cannot speak him home: he stopt the fliers,
And by his rare example made the coward
Turn terror into sport. As waves before
* ^noteA vessel under sail, so men obey'd,
And fell before his stern: his sword (death's stamp)
Where it did mark, it took from face to foot:
He was a thing of blood, whose very motion
Was tim'd with dying cries: alone he enter'd
The mortal gate o'th' city: aidless came off,
And with a sudden re-enforcement struck
Corioli, like a planet. Nor's this all;
For by and by the din of war 'gan pierce
His ready sense, where straight his doubled spirit
Requicken'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† ^note.

Men.
Worthy man!

1 Sen.
He cannot but with measure fill the honours
Which we devise him.

Com.
All our spoils he kick'd at,
And look'd upon things precious, as they were
The common muck o'th' world: he covets less
Than misery itself would give, rewards
His deeds with doing them, and is content
To spend his time to end it.

Men.
He's right noble,
Let him be call'd for.

Sen.
Call Coriolanus.

Com.
He doth appear.

Enter Coriolanus.

Men.
The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd
To make thee Consul.

Cor.
I do owe them still
My life, and services.

Men.
It then remains
That you do speak to th' people.

Cor.
I beseech you,
Let me o'er-leap that custom; for I cannot
Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them,
For my wounds sake, to give their suffrages:
Please you that I may over-pass this doing.

Sic.
Sir, but the people too must have their voices,
Nor will they bate one jot of ceremony.

Men.
Put them not to't: pray fit you to the custom,
And take t'ye, as your predecessors have,
Your honour with the form.

Cor.
It is a part
That I shall blush in acting, and might well
Be taken from the people.

Bru.
Mark you that?

Cor.
To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus,
Shew them th' unaking fears, which I would hide,
As if I had receiv'd them for the hire
Of their breath only—

Men.
Do not stand upon't:—
We recommend t'ye, tribunes of the people,
Our purpose. To them, and to our noble consul
Wish we all joy and honour.

Sen.
To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! [Flourish, then Exeunt. Manent Sicinius and Brutus.

Bru.
You see how he intends to use the people.

Sic.
May they perceive's intent! he will require them,
As if he did contemn what he requested
Should be in them to give.

Bru.
Come, we'll inform them

Of our proceedings here: on th' market place
I know they do attend us. [Exeunt.

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