Men.
Having determined of the Volsces and
To send for Titus Lartius, it remains ^note,
As the main point of this our after-meeting,
To gratify his noble service that
Hath thus stood for his country: therefore, please you ^note,
Most reverend and grave elders, to desire

The present consul, and last general
In our well-found ^note successes, to report
A little of that worthy work perform'd
By Caius Marcius ^note Coriolanus; whom
We met ^note here, both to thank and to remember
With honours like himself.

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

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

Bru.
Which the rather
We shall be bless'd ^note to do, if he remember
A kinder value of the people than
He hath hereto ^note prized 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 ^note.

Men.
He loves your people;
But tie him not to be their bedfellow.
Worthy Cominius, speak. [Coriolanus offers ^note to go away.] Nay,keep your place ^note.

First Sen. ^note
Sit, ^note Coriolanus; never shame to hear
What you have nobly done.

Cor.
Your honours' ^note pardon:
I had rather have my wounds to heal again
Than hear say how I got them.

Bru.
Sir, I hope
My words disbench'd you not ^note.

Cor.
No, sir: yet ^note oft,
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.
You sooth'd ^note not, therefore hurt not: but your people,
I love them as they weigh. ^note

Men.
Pray now, sit down.

Cor.
I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun
When the alarum were struck ^note than idly sit
To hear my nothings monster'd. [Exit. ^note

Men.
Masters of the people,
Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter— ^note
That's thousand to one good one—when you now ^note see
He had rather venture all his limbs for honour
Than one on's ^note ears to hear it ^note? Proceed, Cominius.

Com.
I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus
Should ^note not be utter'd feebly. It is held

That valour is the chiefest virtue and ^note
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 ^note he drove
The bristled ^note lips before him: he 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 ^note
Man-enter'd thus, he waxed ^note like a sea;
And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since,
He lurch'd all swords of the ^note 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 ^note before
A vessel under sail, so men obey'd,
And fell below ^note his stem ^note: his sword, death's stamp,
Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot
He ^note was a thing of blood, whose every motion
Was timed ^note with dying cries: alone he enter'd
The mortal gate of the ^note city, which he painted ^{note note}

With shunless destiny ^note; aidless came off,
And with a sudden re-enforcement struck
Corioli like a planet: now all's his ^note:
When ^note, by and by, the din of war gan pierce
His ready sense; then ^note straight his doubled spirit
Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,
And to the battle came he; where he did
Run reeking ^note o'er the lives of men, as if
'Twere ^note 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!

First Sen. ^note
He cannot but with measure fit ^note the honours
Which we devise him ^note.

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

Men.
He's ^note right noble:
Let him be call'd for ^note.

First Sen. ^note
Call ^note Coriolanus.

Off.
He doth appear.

Re-enter ^note Coriolanus.

Men.
The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased
To make thee consul.

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

Men.
It then remains
That you do speak to the people ^note.

Cor.
I do beseech ^note 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 ^note: please you
That I may pass ^note this doing.

Sic.
Sir, the people ^note
Must have their voices; neither ^note will they bate
One jot of ceremony.

Men.
Put them not to't:
Pray you, go fit ^note you to the custom, and
Take to you ^note, as your predecessors have ^note,
Your honour with your form ^note.

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

Bru.
Mark you that? ^note

Cor.
To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus;
Show ^note them the unaching scars which I should ^note hide,
As if I had received them for the hire
Of their breath only!

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

Senators. ^note
To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! [Flourish of cornets. ^note Exeunt ^note all but Sicinius and Brutus.

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

Sic.
May they perceive's intent! He ^note 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 ^note the market-place,
I know, they do attend us. [Exeunt. ^{note note} Scene III. [Footnote: The same. The Forum. ^note Enter seven or eight ^note Citizens.

First Cit.

Once, if ^note he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

Sec. Cit.

We may, sir, if we will.

Third 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, ^note we are to put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so, if he tell ^note 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.

First Cit.

And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve; for once ^note we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude ^note.

Third Cit.

We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn ^note, 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 ^note, they would fly east, west, north, south, and their consent of one direct way should be ^note at once to all the ^note points o' ^note the compass.

Sec. Cit.

Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?

Third Cit.

Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will; 'tis strongly wedged ^note up in a block-head; but if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, ^note southward.

Sec. Cit.

Why that way?

Third Cit.

To lose itself in a fog; where being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth ^note would return for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife.

Sec. Cit.

You are never without your tricks: you may, you may. ^note

Third Cit.

Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, ^note if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man.

Enter Coriolanus ^note in a gown of humility, ^note with Menenius.

Here he comes, and in the gown of humility: mark his behaviour. We are not to stay all together ^note, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes ^note. He's to make his requests by particulars; wherein ^note every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues: therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him.

All.

Content, content.

Men.
O sir, you are not right: have you not known
The worthiest men have done 't?

Cor.
What must I say?—
‘I pray, sir’—Plague upon't! I cannot bring ^note
My tongue to such a pace. ‘Look, sir, my wounds!
I got them in my country's service, when
Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran
From the noise ^note of our own drums.’

Men.
O me, the gods!
You must not speak of that: you must desire them
To think upon you. ^note

Cor.
Think upon me! hang 'em!
I would they would forget me, like the virtues
Which our divines ^note lose by 'em ^{note note}.

Men.
You'll mar all:
I'll leave you: pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you,
In wholesome manner. [Exit. ^note

Cor.
Bid them wash their faces,

And keep their teeth clean. [Re-enter two of the Citizens. ^note] So, here comes a brace ^note. Re-enter a third Citizen. ^note
You know the cause, sir ^note, of my standing here.

Third Cit. ^note

We, do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.

Cor.

Mine own desert.

Sec. Cit.

Your own desert!

Cor.

Ay, but not ^note mine own desire.

First Cit.

How! not your own desire!

Cor.

No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging.

Third Cit. ^note

You must think, if we give you any thing, we hope to gain by you.

Cor.

Well then, I pray, your ^note price o' the consulship? ^note

First Cit.

The price is ^note, to ask it kindly.

Cor.

Kindly! Sir, ^note I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to show you, which shall be yours in private. Your ^note good voice, sir; what say you?

Sec. Cit.

You shall ha' it, worthy sir.

Cor.

A match, sir. There's in all two worthy voices begged. I have your alms: adieu.

Third Cit. ^note

But this ^note is something odd.

Sec. Cit.

An ^note 'twere to give again,— ^notebut 'tis no matter. ^note

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.

Fourth Cit. ^note

You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly.

Cor.

Your enigma? ^note

Fourth Cit. ^note

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, that I have not been common in my love. I will ^note, sir, flatter my sworn brother ^note, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle: and since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat ^note than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod, and be off ^note to them most counterfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man, and give it bountiful ^note to the desirers ^note. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul ^note.

Fifth Cit. ^note

We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices heartily.

Fourth Cit. ^note

You have received many wounds for your country.

Cor.

I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no farther.

Both Cit.
The gods give you joy, sir, heartily! [Exeunt. ^note

Cor.
Most sweet voices!
Better it is to die, better to starve ^note,
Than crave the hire ^note which first we do deserve.
Why in this woolvish toge ^note should I stand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick that do ^note appear,
Their ^note needless vouches ^note? Custom calls me to't:
What custom wills, in all things ^note should we do't, ^note
The dust on antique time would lie unswept,
And mountainous error be too highly heap'd
For truth to o'er-peer. ^note Rather than fool it so,
Let the high office and the honour go
To one that would do thus. I am half through:
The one part suffer'd, the other will I do. ^note Re-enter ^note three Citizens more.
Here come moe ^note voices.
Your voices: for your voices I have fought;
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices bear
Of wounds two dozen odd ^note; battles thrice six
I have ^note seen, and heard ^note of; for your voices have ^note

Done many things, some less, some more: your voices:
Indeed ^note, I would be consul ^note.

Sixth Cit. ^note

He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice.

Seventh Cit. ^note

Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy, and make him good ^note friend to the people!

All.
Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul! [Exeunt.

Cor.
Worthy voices! Re-enter ^note Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.

Men.
You have ^note stood your limitation; and the tribunes
Endue you with the people's voice: remains
That in the official marks invested you
Anon do meet the senate. ^note

Cor.
Is this done?

Sic.
The custom of request you have discharged:
The people do admit you, and are summon'd
To meet anon upon your approbation.

Cor.
Where? at the senate-house?

Sic.
There, Coriolanus.

Cor.
May I ^note change these garments?

Sic.
You may, sir ^note.

Cor.
That I'll straight do, and, knowing myself again,
Repair to the senate-house.

Men.
I'll keep you company. Will you along?

Bru.
We stay here for the people.

Sic.
Fare you well. [Exeunt Coriolanus and Menenius. ^note
He has it now; and, by his looks, methinks
'Tis warm at's ^note heart.

Bru.
With a proud heart he wore
His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people? ^note Re-enter Citizens. ^note

Sic.
How now, my masters! have you chose this man?

First Cit.
He has our voices, sir.

Bru.
We pray the gods he may deserve your loves.

Sec. Cit.
Amen, sir: to my poor unworthy notice ^note,
He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices.

Third Cit.
Certainly
He flouted us downright. ^note

First Cit.
No, 'tis his kind of speech; he did not mock us.

Sec. Cit.
Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says
He ^note used us scornfully: he should have show'd us
His marks of merit, wounds received for's ^note country.

Sic. ^note
Why, so he did, I am sure.

Citizens. ^note
No, no; ^note no man saw 'em ^note.

Third Cit.
He said he had ^note wounds which he could show in private; ^note
And with his hat ^note, thus waving it in scorn,
‘I would be consul,’ says he: ‘aged custom,
But by your voices, will not so permit me;
Your voices therefore.’ When we granted that,
Here was ‘I thank you for your voices: thank you:
Your most sweet voices: now you have left your voices,
I have no ^note further with you.’ Was not ^note this mockery?

Sic.
Why, either were you ignorant ^note to see't,
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
To yield your voices?

Bru.
Could you not have told him,
As you were lesson'd, when he had no power,
But was a petty servant to the state,
He was your enemy; ever ^note spake against
Your liberties and the ^note charters that you bear
I' the body of the weal: and now, arriving
A place ^note of potency and sway o' the state,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to the plebeii ^note, your voices might
Be curses to yourselves? You should have said,
That as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature
Would ^note think upon you for your voices and
Translate ^note his malice towards you into love,
Standing your friendly lord.

Sic.
Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advised, had touch'd his spirit
And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had call'd you up, have held him to;
Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,
Which easily endures not article
Tying him to aught: ^note so, putting him to rage,
You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.

Bru.
Did you perceive
He did solicit you in free contempt
When ^note he did need your loves; and do you think
That his contempt shall not be bruising to you
When he hath power to crush? Why, had ^note your bodies
No heart among you? or had you tongues to cry
Against the rectorship of judgement?

Sic.
Have you,

Ere now, denied the asker? and now again,
Of ^note him that did not ask but mock, bestow ^note
Your sued-for tongues? ^note

Third Cit.
He's ^note not confirm'd; we may deny him yet.

Sec. Cit.
And ^note will deny him:
I'll ^note have five hundred voices of that sound.

First Cit. ^note
I twice ^note five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru.
Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,
They have ^note 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 ^note.

Sic.
Let them assemble;
And, on a safer judgement, all revoke
Your ignorant election: enforce his pride ^note
And his old hate unto ^note you: besides, forget not ^note
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,
Which most ^note gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion
After the inveterate hate he bears you ^note.

Bru.
Lay ^note

A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd,
No impediment between, but that you must
Cast your election on him.

Sic.
Say, you chose him
More after our commandment than as guided
By your own true affections; and that your minds,
Pre-occupied with what you rather must do
Than what you should ^{note note}, made you against the grain
To voice him consul: lay the fault on us. ^note

Bru.
Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you,
How youngly he began to serve his country,
How long continued; and what stock he springs of,
The noble house o' the Marcians ^note, from whence came
That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,
Who, after great Hostilius, here was king;
Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,
That our best water brought by conduits hither;
And [Censorinus] nobly named so,
Twice being [by the people chosen] censor,
Was his great ancestor. ^note

Sic.
One thus descended,
That hath ^note beside well in his person wrought
To be set high in place, we did commend
To your remembrances: but you have found,
Scaling his present bearing ^note with his past,
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
Your sudden approbation.

Bru.
Say, you ne'er had ^note done't—
Harp on that still—but by our putting on:
And presently, when you have drawn your number,
Repair to the Capitol.

Citizens.
We will so ^note: almost all
Repent in their election ^note. [Exeunt Citizens. ^note

Bru.
Let them ^note go on;
This mutiny were better put in hazard,
Than stay, past doubt, for greater:
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
With their refusal, both observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.

Sic.
To the Capitol, come: ^note
We will be there before the stream o' the people;
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward. [Exeunt. Act III. ^note Scene I. [Footnote: Rome. ^note A street. ^note Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenius, all the Gentry, ^note Cominius, Titus Lartius, ^note and other Senators.

Cor.
Tullus Aufidius then had made new head?

Lart.
He had, my lord; and that it was which caused
Our swifter composition.

Cor.
So then the Volsces stand but as at first;
Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road ^note
Upon's again.

Com.
They are ^note worn, lord consul, so,
That we shall hardly in our ages see
Their banners wave again.

Cor.
Saw you Aufidius?

Lart.
On safe-guard he came to me; and did curse
Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely
Yielded the town: he is retired to Antium.

Cor.
Spoke he of me?

Lart.
He did, my lord.

Cor.
How? what?

Lart.
How often he had met you, sword to sword;
That of all things upon the earth he hated
Your person most; that he would pawn his fortunes
To hopeless restitution, so he might
Be call'd your vanquisher.

Cor.
At Antium lives he?

Lart.
At Antium.

Cor.
I wish I had a cause to seek him there, ^note
To oppose his hatred fully. Welcome home. Enter Sicinius and Brutus.
Behold, these are the tribunes of the people,
The tongues o' the common mouth: I do despise them;
For they do prank them in authority,
Against all noble sufferance.

Sic.
Pass no further.

Cor.
Ha! what is that?

Bru.
It will be dangerous to go on: no further.

Cor.
What makes this change?

Men.
The matter?

Com.
Hath he not pass'd the noble and the common ^note?

Bru.
Cominius, no.

Cor.
Have I had children's voices?

First Sen. ^note
Tribunes, give way; he shall to the market-place.

Bru.
The people are incensed against him.

Sic.
Stop,
Or all will fall in broil ^note.

Cor.
Are these your herd ^note?
Must these have voices, that can yield them now,
And straight disclaim their tongues ^note? What are your offices? ^note
You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth?
Have you not set them on?

Men.
Be calm, be calm.

Cor.
It is a purposed thing, and grows by plot,
To curb the will of the nobility:
Suffer 't, and live with such as cannot rule,
Nor ever will be ruled.

Bru.
Call't not a plot:
The people cry you mock'd them; and of late,
When corn was given them gratis, you repined,
Scandal'd the suppliants for ^note the people, call'd them
Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.

Cor.
Why, this was known before.

Bru.
Not to them all.

Cor.
Have you inform'd them sithence ^note?

Bru.
How! I inform them!

Com. ^note
You are like ^note to do such business.

Bru.
Not unlike,
Each way, to better yours ^{note note}.

Cor.
Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds,
Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me
Your fellow tribune.

Sic.
You show too much of that
For which the people stir: if you will pass
To where you are ^note bound, you must inquire your way,

Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit;
Or never be ^note so noble as a consul,
Nor yoke with him for tribune.

Men.
Let's be calm.

Com.
The people are abused; set on. ^note This paltering
Becomes not Rome ^note; nor has Coriolanus
Deserved this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely
I' the plain way of his merit.

Cor.
Tell me of corn!
This was my speech, and I will speak't again ^note—

Men.
Not now, not now.

First Sen.
Not in this heat, sir, now.

Cor.
Now, as I live, I will. My ^note nobler friends,
I crave their pardons:
For ^note the mutable, rank-scented many ^note, let them
Regard me as I do not flatter, and
Therein ^note behold themselves: I say again ^note,
In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plough'd ^note for, sow'd and scatter'd,
By mingling them with us, the honour'd number;
Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that
Which they ^note have given to beggars.

Men.
Well, no more.

First Sen.
No more words, we beseech you.

Cor.
How! no more!
As for my country I have shed my blood,
Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs
Coin words till their decay against those measles,
Which we disdain ^note should tetter us, yet sought ^note

The very way to catch them.

Bru.
You speak o' the people ^note,
As if ^note you were a god to punish, not
A man ^note of ^note their infirmity.

Sic.
'Twere well
We let the people know't.

Men.
What, what? his choler?

Cor.
Choler!
Were I as patient as the midnight sleep, ^note
By Jove, 'twould be my mind!

Sic.
It is a mind.
That shall remain a poison where it is,
Not poison any further.

Cor.
Shall remain! ^note
Hear you this Triton ^note of the minnows? mark you
His absolute ‘shall’?

Com.
'Twas from the canon ^note.

Cor.
‘Shall’!
O good, ^note but most unwise patricians! why ^note,
You grave but reckless ^note senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here ^note to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory ‘shall,’ being but
The horn and noise o' the monster's ^note, wants not spirit
To say he'll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then vail ^note your ignorance ^note; if none, awake ^note

Your dangerous lenity ^note. If you are learn'd ^note,
Be not as common ^note fools; if you are not,
Let them have cushions by you ^note. You are ^note plebeians,
If they be senators: and they are no less,
When, both your voices blended, the ^note great'st ^note taste ^note
Most palates ^note theirs. They choose their magistrate;
And such a one as he, who puts his ‘shall,’
His popular ‘shall,’ against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece. By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base! and my soul aches
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supreme, how soon confusion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take
The one by the other.