Act II, Scene 2

The same. The Capitol.

[Enter two Officers, to lay cushions]

• First Officer. Come, come, they are almost here. How many stand 1225
  for consulships?

• Second Officer. Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every one
  Coriolanus will carry it.

• First Officer. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud, and
  loves not the common people. 1230

• Second Officer. Faith, there had been many great men that have
  flattered the people, who ne'er loved 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 1235
  Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate
  him manifests the true knowledge he has in their
  disposition; and out of his noble carelessness lets
  them plainly see't.

• First Officer. If he did not care whether he had their love or no, 1240
  he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither
  good nor harm: but he seeks their hate with greater
  devotion than can render it him; and leaves
  nothing undone that may fully discover him their
  opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and 1245
  displeasure of the people is as bad as that which he
  dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

• Second Officer. He hath deserved worthily of his country: and his
  ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who,
  having been supple and courteous to the people, 1250
  bonneted, without any further deed to have them at
  an 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 1255
  ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a
  malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck
  reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.

• First Officer. No more of him; he is a worthy man: make way, they
  are coming. 1260
  [A sennet. Enter, with actors before them, COMINIUS]
  the consul, MENENIUS, CORIOLANUS, Senators,
  SICINIUS and BRUTUS. The Senators take their
  places; the Tribunes take their Places by
  themselves. CORIOLANUS stands] 1265

• Menenius Agrippa. Having determined of the Volsces and
  To send for Titus TITUS, it remains,
  As the main point of this our after-meeting,
  To gratify his noble service that
  Hath thus stood for his country: therefore, 1270
  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 1275
  By Caius CORIOLANUS Coriolanus, whom
  We met here both to thank and to remember
  With honours like himself.

• First Senator. Speak, good Cominius:
  Leave nothing out for length, and make us think 1280
  Rather our state's defective for requital
  Than we to stretch it out.
  [To the Tribunes]
  Masters o' the people,
  We do request your kindest ears, and after, 1285
  Your loving motion toward the common body,
  To yield what passes here.

• Sicinius Velutus. We are convented
  Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts
  Inclinable to honour and advance 1290
  The theme of our assembly.

• Junius Brutus. Which the rather
  We shall be blest to do, if he remember
  A kinder value of the people than
  He hath hereto prized them at. 1295

• Menenius Agrippa. That's off, that's off;
  I would you rather had been silent. Please you
  To hear Cominius speak?

• Junius Brutus. Most willingly;
  But yet my caution was more pertinent 1300
  Than the rebuke you give it.

• Menenius Agrippa. He loves your people
  But tie him not to be their bedfellow.
  Worthy Cominius, speak.
  [CORIOLANUS offers to go away] 1305
  Nay, keep your place.

• First Senator. Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear
  What you have nobly done.

• Coriolanus. Your horror's pardon:
  I had rather have my wounds to heal again 1310
  Than hear say how I got them.

• Junius Brutus. Sir, I hope
  My words disbench'd you not.

• Coriolanus. No, sir: yet oft,
  When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. 1315
  You soothed not, therefore hurt not: but
  your people,
  I love them as they weigh.

• Menenius Agrippa. Pray now, sit down.

• Coriolanus. I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun 1320
  When the alarum were struck than idly sit
  To hear my nothings monster'd.

[Exit]

• Menenius Agrippa. Masters of the people,
  Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter— 1325
  That's thousand to one good one—when you now see
  He had rather venture all his limbs for honour
  Than one on's ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius.

• Cominius. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus
  Should not be utter'd feebly. It is held 1330
  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 counterpoised. At sixteen years,
  When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought 1335
  Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,
  Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,
  When with his Amazonian chin he drove
  The bristled lips before him: be bestrid
  An o'er-press'd Roman and i' the consul's view 1340
  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 1345
  Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea,
  And in the brunt of seventeen battles since
  He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last,
  Before and in Corioli, let me say,
  I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers; 1350
  And by his rare example made the coward
  Turn terror into sport: as weeds before
  A vessel under sail, so men obey'd
  And fell below his stem: his sword, death's stamp,
  Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot 1355
  He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
  Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd
  The mortal gate of the city, which he painted
  With shunless destiny; aidless came off,
  And with a sudden reinforcement struck 1360
  Corioli like a planet: now all's his:
  When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce
  His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit
  Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,
  And to the battle came he; where he did 1365
  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.

• Menenius Agrippa. Worthy man! 1370

• First Senator. He cannot but with measure fit the honours
  Which we devise him.

• Cominius. Our spoils he kick'd at,
  And look'd upon things precious as they were
  The common muck of the world: he covets less 1375
  Than misery itself would give; rewards
  His deeds with doing them, and is content
  To spend the time to end it.

• Menenius Agrippa. He's right noble:
  Let him be call'd for. 1380

• First Senator. Call Coriolanus.

• Officer. He doth appear.

[Re-enter CORIOLANUS]

• Menenius Agrippa. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased
  To make thee consul. 1385

• Coriolanus. I do owe them still
  My life and services.

• Menenius Agrippa. It then remains
  That you do speak to the people.

• Coriolanus. I do beseech you, 1390
  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: please you
  That I may pass this doing.

• Sicinius Velutus. Sir, the people 1395
  Must have their voices; neither will they bate
  One jot of ceremony.

• Menenius Agrippa. Put them not to't:
  Pray you, go fit you to the custom and
  Take to you, as your predecessors have, 1400
  Your honour with your form.

• Coriolanus. It is apart
  That I shall blush in acting, and might well
  Be taken from the people.

• Junius Brutus. Mark you that? 1405

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

• Menenius Agrippa. Do not stand upon't. 1410
  We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,
  Our purpose to them: and to our noble consul
  Wish we all joy and honour.Senators. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour!
  [Flourish of cornets. Exeunt all but SICINIUS]
  and BRUTUS] 1415

• Junius Brutus. You see how he intends to use the people.

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

• Junius Brutus. Come, we'll inform them 1420
  Of our proceedings here: on the marketplace,
  I know, they do attend us.

[Exeunt]