eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be filent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwife, were a malice that, giving it felf 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. SCENE VI. Enter the Patricians, and the Tribunes of the People, Lictors before them; Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius the Conful: Sicinius and Brutus take their places by themselves. Men. Having determin'd of the Volfcians, and To fend for Titus Lartius, it remains, Therefore, please you, As the main point of this our after-meeting, We meet here, both to thank, and to remember 1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Leave nothing out for length, and make us think Than that we stretch it out. Mafters o'th' people, Sic. We are convented The theam of our affembly. Bru. Which the rather We fhall be bleft to do, if he remember A kinder value of the people, than Men. That's off, that's off; I would you rather had been filent: please you To hear Cominius speak? But yet my caution was more pertinent Than the rebuke you give, Men. He loves your people, But tye him not to be their bedfellow: [Coriolanus rifes and offers to go away. Nay, keep your place. 1 Sen. Sit, Coriolanus; never fhame to hear What you have nobly done. Cor. Your Honour's pardon : I had rather have my wounds to heal again, Bru. Sir, I hope My words dif-bench'd you not. Cor. No, Sir; yet oft, When blows have made me ftay, I fled from words. Men. Pray now, fit down, Cor. I had rather have one fcratch my head i'th' fun, When the alarum were ftruck, than idly fit To hear my nothings monster'd. Men. Mafters of the people, [Exit Coriolanus. Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, The The briftled lips before him he bestrid I cannot speak him home: he ftopt the fliers, And fell below his ftern: his fword (death's ftamp) Men. Worthy man! I Sen. He cannot but with measure fill the honours Which we devise him. Com. All our fpoils he kick'd at, And look'd upon things precious, as they were Men Men. He's right noble, Let him be called for. Off. He doth appear. Enter Coriolanus. Men. The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd To make thee Conful. Cor. I do owe them ftill My life, and fervices. Men. It then remains That you do fpeak to th' people. Cor. I befeech you, Let me o'er-leap that cuftom; for I cannot Sic. Sir, but the people too muft have their voices, Nor will they bate one jot of ceremony. Men. Put them not to't: pray fit you to the cuftom, And take t'ye, as your predeceffors 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 scars, 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, Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! [Flourish Cornets. Then Exeunt, Manent Sicinius and Brutus.. Bru. You fee 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. Br Bru. Come, we'll inform them Of our proceedings here: on th' market-place SCENE VII. The Forum. [Exeunt. 1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. 2 Cit. We may, Sir, if we will. Cit. We have power in our felves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do; for, if he fhew us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds, and speak for them: fo, if he tells us his noble deeds, we muft alfo tell him of our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monftrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful, were to make a monfter of the multitude; of the which we being members, should bring our felves to be monftrous members. 1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will ferve: for once when we ftood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed monfter. 3 Cit. We have been call'd fo of many, not that our heads are fome brown, fome black, fome auburn, fome bald; but that our wits are fo diverfely colour'd; and truly, I think, if all our wits were to iffue out of our fculls, they would fly Eaft, Weft, North, South, and their confent of one direct way would be at once to all points o'th' compass. 2 Cit. Think you fo? which way do you judge my wit would fly? 3 Cit. Nay, your wit will not fo foon out as another man's will, 'tis ftrongly wedg'd up in a blockhead: but if it were at liberty, 'twould fure Southward. 2 Cit. Why that way? 3 Cit. To lofe it felf in a fog, where being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for confcience fake, to help to get thee a wife. 2 Cit. You are never without your tricks you may -you may, Once here means the fame as when we fay once for all. |