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were a malice that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof

and rebuke from every car that heard it.

FIRST OFFICER.

No more of him; he's a worthy man. Make way,

they are coming.

A sennet. Enter the PATRICIANS and the TRIBUNES

OF THE PEOPLE, LICTORS before them; CORIOLANUS,

MENENIUS, COMINIUS the Consul. SICINIUS and

BRUTUS take their places by themselves.

CORIOLANUS stands

MENENIUS.

Having determin'd of the Volsces, and

To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,

As the main point of this our after-meeting,

To gratify his noble service that

Hath thus stood for his country. Therefore 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

By Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whom

We met here both to thank and to remember

With honours like himself. [CORIOLANUS sits]

FIRST SENATOR.

Speak, good Cominius.

Leave nothing out for length, and make us think

Rather our state's defective for requital

Than we to stretch it out. Masters o' th' people,

We do request your kindest ears; and, after,

Your loving motion toward the common body,

To yield what passes here.

SICINIUS.

We are convented

Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts

Inclinable to honour and advance

The theme of our assembly.

BRUTUS.

Which the rather

We shall be bless'd to do, if he remember

A kinder value of the people than

He hath hereto priz'd them at.

MENENIUS.

That's off, that's off;

I would you rather had been silent. Please you

To hear Cominius speak?

BRUTUS.

Most willingly.

But yet my caution was more pertinent

Than the rebuke you give it.

MENENIUS.

He loves your people;

But tie him not to be their bedfellow.

Worthy Cominius, speak.

[CORIOLANUS rises, and offers to go away]

Nay, keep your place.

FIRST SENATOR.

Sit, Coriolanus, never shame to hear

What you have nobly done.

CORIOLANUS.

Your Honours' pardon.

I had rather have my wounds to heal again

Than hear say how I got them.

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.

You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not. But your people,

I love them as they weigh-

MENENIUS.

Pray now, sit down.

CORIOLANUS.

I had rather have one scratch my head i' th' sun

When the alarum were struck than idly sit

To hear my nothings monster'd. Exit

MENENIUS. Masters of the people,

Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter-

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

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 counterpois'd. At sixteen years,

When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought

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; he bestrid

An o'erpress'd Roman and i' th' consul's view

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 prov'd best man i' th' field, and for his meed

Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age

Man-ent'red 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,

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

He was a thing of blood, whose every motion

Was tim'd with dying cries. Alone he ent'red

The mortal gate of th' city, which he painted

With shunless destiny;