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coriolanus:
[Act II,
Men. He loves your people ;
But tie him not to be their bedfellow.—Worthy Cominius, speak.—Nay, keep your place.[( oriolanus rises, and offers to go away.I Sen. Sit, Coriolanus ; never shame to hearWhat you have nobly done.
( or. Your honours’ pardon ;
I had rather have my wounds to heal again,Than hear say how I got them.
My words dis-bench’d you not.
Cor. No, sir : yet oft,
When blows have made me stay, I fled fromwords.
You sooth’d not, therefore hurt not: But yourpeople,
I love them as they weigh.
Men. Pray now, sit down.
Cor. i had rather have one scratch my headi’the sun,
Vilten the alarum were struck, than idly sitTo hear my nothings monster’d.
\^Exit Coriolanus.
Men. Masters o’the people,
Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter,(That's thousand to one good one,) when younow see,
He had rather venture all his limbs for honour,Than one of his ears to hear it ?—Proceed, Co-minius.
Com. I shall lack voice : the deeds of Corio-lanus
Should not be utter’d feebly.—It is held,
That valour is the chiefest virtue, andMost dignifies the haver : if it be,
The man I speak of cannot in the worldBe singly counterpois’d. At sixteen years,When Tarquin made a head for Heine, he foughtBeyond the mark of others : our then dictator,Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,When with his Amazonian chin he droveThe bristled lips before him : he bestridAn o’er-press’d Roman, and i’the consul's viewSlew 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 proy’d best man i’the field, and for his meedWas brow-bound with the oak. His pupil ageMan-enter’d thus, he waxed like a sea ;
And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since,
He lurch’d all swords o’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 cowardTurn terror into sport: as waves beforeA vessel under sail, so men obey’d,
And fell below his stem: hiss-word (death’s stamp)Where it did mark, it took ; from face to footHe was a thing of blood, whose every motionWas timed with dying cries : alone he enter’dThe mortal gate o’the city, which he paintedWith shunless destiny, aidless came off,
And with a sudden reinforcement struck
Corioli, like a planet: Now all’s his:
When by and by the din of war ’gan pierceIlis ready sense : then straight his doubled spiritRe-quicjcen’d what in flesh was fatigate,
And to the battle came he; where he didRun reeking o’er the lives of men, as if’Twere a perpetual spoil: and, till we call’dBoth field and city ours, he never stoodTo ease his breast with panting.
Men. Worthy man !
1 Sen. He cannot but with measure fit thehonours
Which we devise him.
Coin. Our spoils he kick’d at;
And look’d upon things precious, as they wereThe common muck o’the world: he covets lessThan misery itself would give ; rewardsHis deeds with doing them; and is contentTo spend the time, to end it.
Men. He’s right noble;
Let him be call’d for.
1 Sen. Call for Coriolanus.
Off. He doth appear.
Re-enter Coriolanus.
Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas’dTo make tliee consul.
Cor. I do owe them stillMy life, and services.
Men. It then remains,
That you do speak to the people.
Cor. I do beseech you,
Let me o’erleap that custom ; for I cannotPut on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them,For my wounds’ sake, to give their suffrage:please you,
That I may pass this doing.
Sic. Sir, the people
Must have their voices; neither will they bateOne jot of ceremony.
Men. Put them not to’t:—
Pray you, go fit you to the custom ; andTake to you, as your predecessors have,
Your honour with your form.
Cor. It is a part
That I shall blush in acting, and might wellBe taken from the people.
Bru. Mark you that ?
Cor. To brag unto them,—Thus I did, andthus;—
Show them the unaking scars, which I shouldhide,
As if I had receiv’d them for the hire
Of their breath only:-
Men. Do not stand upon’t.—
We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,Our purpose to them;—and to our noble consulWish we all joy and honour.
Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour !
^Flourish. Then exeunt Senators.Bru. Y ou see how he intends to use the people.Sic. May they perceive his intent! He, thatwill require them,