1247To gratifie his Noble seruice, that hath

1248Thus stood for his Countrey. Therefore please you,

1249Most reuerend and graue Elders, to desire

1250The present Consull, and last Generall,

1251In our well-found Successes, to report

1252A little of that worthy Worke, perform'd

1253By Martius Caius Coriolanus: whom

1254We met here, both to thanke, and to remember,

1255With Honors like himselfe.

12561. Sen. Speake, good Cominius:

1257Leaue nothing out for length, and make vs thinke

1258Rather our states defectiue for requitall,

1259Then we to stretch it out. Masters a'th' People,

1260We doe request your kindest eares: and after

1261Your louing motion toward the common Body,

1262To yeeld what passes here.

1263Scicin. We are conuented vpon a pleasing Treatie, and

1264haue hearts inclinable to honor and aduance the Theame

1265of our Assembly.

1266Brutus. Which the rather wee shall be blest to doe, if

1267he remember a kinder value of the People, then he hath

1268hereto priz'd them at.

1269Menen. That's off, that's off: I would you rather had

1270been silent: Please you to heare Cominius speake?

1271Brutus. Most willingly: but yet my Caution was

1272more pertinent then the rebuke you giue it.

1273Menen. He loues your People, but tye him not to be

1274their Bed-fellow: Worthie Cominius speake.

1276Nay, keepe your place.

1277Senat. Sit Coriolanus: neuer shame to heare

1278What you haue Nobly done.

1279Coriol. Your Honors pardon:

1280I had rather haue my Wounds to heale againe,

1281Then heare say how I got them.

1282Brutus. Sir, I hope my words dis-bench'd you not?

1283Coriol. No Sir: yet oft,

1284When blowes haue made me stay, I fled from words.

1285You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: but your People,

1286I loue them as they weigh---

1287Menen. Pray now sit downe.

1288Corio. I had rather haue one scratch my Head i'th' Sun,

1289When the Alarum were strucke, then idly sit

1290To heare my Nothings monster'd. Exit Coriolanus

1291Menen. Masters of the People,

1292Your multiplying Spawne, how can he flatter?

1293That's thousand to one good one, when you now see

1294He had rather venture all his Limbes for Honor,

1295Then on ones Eares to heare it. Proceed Cominius.

1296Com. I shall lacke voyce: the deeds of Coriolanus

1297Should not be vtter'd feebly: it is held,

1298That Valour is the chiefest Vertue,

1299And most dignifies the hauer: if it be,

1300The man I speake of, cannot in the World

1301Be singly counter-poys'd. At sixteene yeeres,

1302When Tarquin made a Head for Rome, he fought

1303Beyond the marke of others: our then Dictator,

1304Whom with all prayse I point at, saw him fight,

1305When with his Amazonian Shinne he droue

1306The brizled Lippes before him: he bestrid

1307An o're-prest Roman, and i'th' Consuls view

1308Slew three Opposers: Tarquins selfe he met,

1309And strucke him on his Knee: in that dayes feates,

1310When he might act the Woman in the Scene,

1311He prou'd best man i'th' field, and for his meed

1312Was Brow-bound with the Oake. His Pupill age

1313Man-entred thus, he waxed like a Sea,

1314And in the brunt of seuenteene Battailes since,

1315He lurcht all Swords of the Garland: for this last,

1316Before, and in Corioles, let me say

1317I cannot speake him home: he stopt the flyers,

1318And by his rare example made the Coward

1319Turne terror into sport: as Weeds before

1320A Vessell vnder sayle, so men obey'd,

1321And fell below his Stem: his Sword, Deaths stampe,

1322Where it did marke, it tooke from face to foot:

1323He was a thing of Blood, whose euery motion

1324Was tim'd with dying Cryes: alone he entred

1325The mortall Gate of th' Citie, which he painted

1326With shunlesse destinie: aydelesse came off,

1327And with a sudden re-inforcement strucke

1328Carioles like a Planet: now all's his,

1329When by and by the dinne of Warre gan pierce

1330His readie sence: then straight his doubled spirit

1331Requickned what in flesh was fatigate,

1332And to the Battaile came he, where he did

1333Runne reeking o're the liues of men, as if 'twere

1334A perpetuall spoyle: and till we call'd

1335Both Field and Citie ours, he neuer stood

1336To ease his Brest with panting.

1337Menen. Worthy man.

1338Senat. He cannot but with measure fit the Honors

1339which we deuise him.

1340Com. Our spoyles he kickt at,

1341And look'd vpon things precious, as they were

1342The common Muck of the World: he couets lesse

1343Then Miserie it selfe would giue, rewards his deeds

1344With doing them, and is content

1345To spend the time, to end it.

1346Menen. Hee's right Noble, let him be call'd for.

1347Senat. Call Coriolanus.

1348Off. He doth appeare.

1350Menen. The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd to make

1351thee Consull.

1352Corio. I doe owe them still my Life, and Seruices.

1353Menen. It then remaines, that you doe speake to the

1354People.

1355Corio. I doe beseech you,

1356Let me o're-leape that custome: for I cannot

1357Put on the Gowne, stand naked, and entreat them

1358For my Wounds sake, to giue their sufferage:

1359Please you that I may passe this doing.

1360Scicin. Sir, the People must haue their Voyces,

1361Neyther will they bate one iot of Ceremonie.

1362Menen. Put them not too't:

1363Pray you goe fit you to the Custome,

1364And take to you, as your Predecessors haue,

1365Your Honor with your forme.

1366Corio. It is a part that I shall blush in acting,

1367And might well be taken from the People.

1368Brutus. Marke you that.

1369Corio. To brag vnto them, thus I did, and thus

1370Shew them th' vnaking Skarres, which I should hide,

1371As if I had receiu'd them for the hyre

1372Of their breath onely.

1373Menen. Doe not stand vpon't:

1374We recommend to you Tribunes of the People

1375Our purpose to them, and to our Noble Consull

1376Wish we all Ioy, and Honor.