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- Edition: Coriolanus
Coriolanus (Folio 1, 1623)
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1203Enter two Officers, to lay Cushions, as it were,
1204in the Capitoll.
1208Coriolanus will carry it.
12091. Off. That's a braue fellow: but hee's vengeance
1210prowd, and loues not the common people.
12112. Off. 'Faith, there hath beene many great men that
1212haue flatter'd the people, who ne're loued them; and there
1213be many that they haue loued, they know not wherefore:
1214so that if they loue they know not why, they hate vpon
1215no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neyther to
1216care whether they loue, or hate him, manifests the true
12191. Off. If he did not care whether he had their loue, or
1220no, hee waued indifferently, 'twixt doing them neyther
1221good, nor harme: but hee seekes their hate with greater
1222deuotion, then they can render it him; and leaues nothing
1226their loue.
1230netted, without any further deed, to haue them at all into
1232Honors in their Eyes, and his actions in their Hearts, that
1234were a kinde of ingratefull Iniurie: to report otherwise,
1235were a Mallice, that giuing it selfe the Lye, would plucke
1236reproofe and rebuke from euery Eare that heard it.
12371. Off. No more of him, hee's a worthy man: make
1238way, they are comming.
1239A Sennet. Enter the Patricians, and the Tribunes of
1240the People, Lictors before them: Coriolanus, Mene-
1241nius, Cominius the Consul: Scicinius and Brutus
1242take their places by themselues: Corio-
1243lanus stands.
1244Menen. Hauing determin'd of the Volces,
1245And to send for Titus Lartius: it remaines,
1246As the maine Point of this our after-meeting,
To
The Tragedie of Coriolanus. 11
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
1261Your louing motion toward the common Body,
1262To yeeld what passes here.
1264haue hearts inclinable to honor and aduance the Theame
1265of our Assembly.
1267he remember a kinder value of the People, then he hath
1268hereto priz'd them at.
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.
1275 Coriolanus rises, and offers to goe away.
1276Nay, keepe your place.
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,
1285You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: but your People,
1286I loue them as they weigh---
1292Your multiplying Spawne, how can he flatter?
1294He had rather venture all his Limbes for Honor,
1295Then on ones Eares to heare it. Proceed Cominius.
1297Should not be vtter'd feebly: it is held,
1298That Valour is the chiefest Vertue,
1300The man I speake of, cannot in the World
1302When Tarquin made a Head for Rome, he fought
1303Beyond the marke of others: our then Dictator,
1305When with his Amazonian Shinne he droue
1306The brizled Lippes before him: he bestrid
1309And strucke him on his Knee: in that dayes feates,
1310When he might act the Woman in the Scene,
1312Was Brow-bound with the Oake. His Pupill age
1313Man-entred thus, he waxed like a Sea,
1315He lurcht all Swords of the Garland: for this last,
1316Before, and in Corioles, let me say
1318And by his rare example made the Coward
1319Turne terror into sport: as Weeds before
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
1328Carioles like a Planet: now all's his,
1329When by and by the dinne of Warre gan pierce
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
1337Menen. Worthy man.
1339which we deuise him.
1341And look'd vpon things precious, as they were
1342The common Muck of the World: he couets lesse
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.
1349Enter Coriolanus.
1350Menen. The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd to make
1351thee Consull.
1354People.
1356Let me o're-leape that custome: for I cannot
1357Put on the Gowne, stand naked, and entreat them
1361Neyther will they bate one iot of Ceremonie.
1362Menen. Put them not too't:
1364And take to you, as your Predecessors haue,
1365Your Honor with your forme.
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.
1374We recommend to you Tribunes of the People
1376Wish we all Ioy, and Honor.
Senat. To
12The Tragedie of Coriolanus.
1377Senat. To Coriolanus come all ioy and Honor.
1378Flourish Cornets.
1379Then Exeunt. Manet Sicinius and Brutus.
1381Scicin. May they perceiue's intent: he wil require them
1382As if he did contemne what he requested,
1383Should be in them to giue.
1384Bru. Come, wee'l informe them
1385Of our proceedings heere on th' Market place,
1386I know they do attend vs.