SCENE V.
The Capitol.
Enter two Officers, to lay cushions.
1 Off.
Come, come, they are almost here; how many stand
for consulships?
2 Off.
Three they say; but 'tis thought of every one, Coriolanus
will carry it.
1 Off.
That's a brave fellow, but he's vengeance proud, and
loves not the common people.
2 Off.
'Faith there have been many great men that have flatter'd
the people, who ne'er lov'd 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,
-- 130 --
manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition, and out
of his noble carelessness lets them plainly see't.
1 Off.
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.
2 Off.
He hath deserved worthily of his country: and his
ascent is not by such easie degrees as those who have been supple
and courteous to the people, bonnetted without any further deed
to e noteheave 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 it self the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke
from ev'ry ear that heard it.
1 Off.
No more of him, he is a worthy man: make way,
they are coming.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
