if he had ftaid by him, I would not have been fo fidius'd for all the chefts in Corioli, and the gold that's in them. Is the Senate poffeft of this? Vol. Good Ladies, let's go. Yes, yes, yes: the Senate has letters from the General, wherein he gives my fon the whole name of the war: he hath in this action out-done his former deeds doubly. Val. In troth, there's wondrous things spoke of him. Men. Wondrous! ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchafing. Vir. The Gods grant them true! Vol. True? pow waw. Men. True? I'll be fworn they are true. Where is he wounded? God fave their good Worfhips *! Martius is coming home; he has more cause to be proud: - where is he wounded? Val. I'th' fhoulder, and i'th' left arm; there will be large cicatrices to fhew the people, when he fhall stand for his place. He receiv'd in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts i'th' body. Men. One i'th' neck, and one too i'th' thigh; there's nine that I know. Vol. He had, before his laft expedition, twenty five wounds upon him. Men. Now 'tis twenty feven: every gafh was an enemy's grave. Hark, the trumpets. [Afbout and flourish. Vol. These are th' ufhers of Martius; before him He carries noife, behind him he leaves tears: Trumpets found. Enter Cominius the General and Titus Lartius; between them Coriolanus, crown'd with an oaken garland, with Captains and Soldiers, and a Herald. Her. Know, Rome, that all alone Martius did fight Within Corioli gates, where he hath won, Meaning the Tribunes. 1 2 With With fame, a name to Caius Martius. Welcome to Rome, renown'd Coriolanus! [Sound. Flourish. All. Welcome to Rome, renown'd Coriolanus! Cor. No more of this, it does offend my heart; Pray now, no more. Com. Look, Sir, your mother. Cor. Oh! You have, I know, petition'd all the Gods For my profperity. Vol. Nay, my foldier, up: My gentle Martius, my worthy Caius, But oh, thy wife Cor. My gracious filence, hail! [Kneels. Would't thou have laugh'd, had I come coffin'd home, And mothers that lack fons. Men. Now the Gods crown thee! Cor. And live you yet?O my sweet Lady, pardon. [To Val. Vol. I know not where to turn. O welcome home; And welcome, General! y'are welcome all. Men. A hundred thousand welcomes: I could weep, That is not glad to fee thee! You are three That Rome fhould dote on: yet by the faith of men, We call a nettle, but a nettle, and The faults of fools, but folly. Com. Ever right. Cor. Menenius, ever, ever. Her, Give way there, and go on. Cor. Your hand, and yours. Ere in our own houfe I do fhade my head, The good Patricians must be visited, From whom I have receiv'd not only greetings, But But with them, charge of honour. Vol. I have lived, To fee inherited my very wishes, And buildings of my fancy; only one thing Cor. Know, good mother, I Had rather be their fervant in my way, Than fway with them in theirs. Com. On, to the Capitol. [Flourish. Cornets. [Exeunt in ftate, as before. SCENE IV. Enter Brutus and Sicinius. Bru. All tongues fpeak of him, and the bleared fights. Are fpectacled to fee him. Your pratling nurse Into a rapture lets her baby cry, While the chats him: the kitchen maukin pins Clambring the walls to eye him; ftalls, bulks, windows, In earneftnefs to fee him: feld-fhown Flamens Sic. On the fudden, I warrant him Conful. Bru. Then our office may, During his power, go fleep. Sic. He cannot temp'rately tranfport his honours, From where he fhould begin and end, but will Lose those he'ath won. Bru. In that there's comfort. Sic. Doubt not The commoners, for whom we ftand, but they With With the leaft cause these his new honours; which Bru. I heard him fwear, Were he to ftand for Conful, never would he Nor fhewing, as the manner is, his wounds Bru. It was his word: oh, he would miss it, rather And the defire o'th' Nobles. Sic. I wifh no better, Than have him hold that purpose, and to put it Bru. 'Tis moft like he will. Sic. It fhall be to him then, as our good wills; A fure deftruction. Bru. So it muft fall out To him, or our authorities. For our end, He ftill hath held them; that to's power he would Of no more foul nor fitness for the world, Sic. This, as you fay, fuggefted At fome time when his foaring infolence Shall touch the people, (which time shall not want, As to fet dogs on fheep) will be the fire Enter a Messenger. Bru. What's the matter? Mef. You're fent for to the Capitol: 'tis thought That That Martius fhall be Conful: I have feen The dumb men throng to fee him, and the blind As to Jove's ftatue, and the Commons made Bru. Let's to the Capitol, And carry with us ears and eyes for th' time, Sic. Have with you. SCENE The Capitol. Enter two Officers, to lay cushions. 1 Off. Come, come, they are almost here; how many ftand for Confulfhips? 2 Off. Three they fay; 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; fo 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, manifefts the true knowledge he has in their difpofition, and out of his noble careleffness he let's them plainly fee'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 feeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone, that may fully discover him their oppofite. Now to feem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people, is as bad as that which he diflikes, to flatter them for their love. 2 Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country and his afcent is not by fuch easy degrees as theirs who have been fupple and courteous to the people bonneted, without any further deed to heave them at all into their eftimation and report but he hath fo planted his honours in their eyes, |