Enter two Officers, to lay cushions, as it were in the Capitol. FIRST OFFICER Come, come. They are almost here. How many stand for consulships? SECOND OFFICER Three, they say; but ’tis thought of everyone Coriolanus will carry it. FIRST OFFICER That’s a brave fellow, but he’s vengeance 5 proud and loves not the common people. | At the Capitol, a couple of Officers prepare for the senate and talk
about Coriolanus' chances of getting elected. On the one hand, he's a
"brave" war hero. On the other hand, he's way too proud and hates the
"common people." |
SECOND OFFICER ’Faith, there hath 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 10 know not why, they hate upon no better a ground. Therefore, for 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. 15 FIRST OFFICER If he did not care whether he had their love or no, he waved indifferently ’twixt doing them neither good nor harm; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him and leaves nothing undone that may fully discover him 20 their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and 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 25 as those who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonneted, without any further deed to have them at all into their estimation and report; but he hath so planted his honors in their eyes and his actions in their hearts that for their tongues to 30 be silent and not confess so much were a kind of 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’s a worthy man. 35 Make way. They are coming. | One of the Officers points out that plenty of politicians hate the
commoners but they're good at flattering voters. The only difference is
that Coriolanus refuses to pander. |
A sennet. Enter the Patricians and the Tribunes of the people, Lictors before them; Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius the consul. The Patricians sit. Sicinius and Brutus take their places by themselves. Coriolanus stands. MENENIUS Having determined 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 40 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 45 A little of that worthy work performed By Martius Caius Coriolanus, whom We met here both to thank and to remember With honors like himself. Coriolanus sits. | The Senators show up and get down to business. It's official: Coriolanus is running for "consul." |
FIRST SENATOR Speak, good Cominius. 50 Leave nothing out for length, and make us think Rather our state’s defective for requital, Than we to stretch it out. (To the Tribunes.) Masters o’ th’ people, We do request your kindest ears and, after, 55 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 honor and advance 60 The theme of our assembly. 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. 65 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 70 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. 75 FIRST SENATOR Sit, Coriolanus. Never shame to hear What you have nobly done. CORIOLANUS Your Honors, pardon. I had rather have my wounds to heal again Than hear say how I got them. 80 BRUTUS Sir, I hope My words disbenched you not? CORIOLANUS No, sir. Yet oft, When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. You soothed not, therefore hurt not; but your 85 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 90 To hear my nothings monstered. Coriolanus exits. MENENIUS Masters of the people, Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter— That’s thousand to one good one—when you now see 95 He had rather venture all his limbs for honor Than one on ’s ears to hear it.—Proceed, Cominius. COMINIUS I shall lack voice. The deeds of Coriolanus Should not be uttered feebly. It is held That valor is the chiefest virtue and 100 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 Beyond the mark of others. Our then dictator, 105 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’erpressed Roman and i’ th’ Consul’s view Slew three opposers. Tarquin’s self he met 110 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’ th’ field and for his meed Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age Man-entered thus, he waxèd like a sea, 115 And in the brunt of seventeen battles since He lurched all swords of the garland. For this last, Before and in Corioles, let me say, I cannot speak him home. He stopped the flyers And by his rare example made the coward 120 Turn terror into sport. As weeds before A vessel under sail, so men obeyed 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 125 Was timed with dying cries. Alone he entered The mortal gate o’ th’ city, which he painted With shunless destiny; aidless came off And with a sudden reinforcement struck Corioles like a planet. Now all’s his, 130 When by and by the din of war gan pierce His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit Requickened what in flesh was fatigate, And to the battle came he, where he did Run reeking o’er the lives of men as if 135 ’Twere a perpetual spoil; and till we called Both field and city ours, he never stood To ease his breast with panting. MENENIUS Worthy man! FIRST SENATOR He cannot but with measure fit the honors 140 Which we devise him. COMINIUS Our spoils he kicked at And looked upon things precious as they were The common muck of the world. He covets less Than misery itself would give, rewards 145 His deeds with doing them, and is content To spend the time to end it. MENENIUS He’s right noble. Let him be called for. FIRST SENATOR Call Coriolanus. 150 OFFICER He doth appear. | Cominius gets up and gives a big speech. Mostly, he fanboys about Coriolanus' bravery in battle. Coriolanus is so embarrassed that he leaves the room, but the Senators can't get enough and say they want to make him consul. |
Enter Coriolanus. MENENIUS The Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased To make thee consul. CORIOLANUS I do owe them still My life and services. 155 MENENIUS It then remains That you do speak to the people. CORIOLANUS I do beseech you, Let me o’erleap that custom, for I cannot Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them 160 For my wounds’ sake to give their suffrage. Please you That I may pass this doing. SICINIUS Sir, the people Must have their voices; neither will they bate 165 One jot of ceremony. MENENIUS, to Coriolanus Put them not to ’t. Pray you, go fit you to the custom, and Take to you, as your predecessors have, Your honor with your form. 170 | Next step is for Coriolanus to get the plebes' votes. This involves wearing a special toga, getting "naked," and showing the people his war wounds. Hey, it's tradition. |
CORIOLANUS It is a part That I shall blush in acting, and might well Be taken from the people. BRUTUS, to Sicinius Mark you that? CORIOLANUS To brag unto them “Thus I did, and thus!” 175 Show them th’ unaching scars, which I should hide, As if I had received them for the hire Of their breath only! MENENIUS Do not stand upon ’t.— We recommend to you, tribunes of the people, 180 Our purpose to them, and to our noble consul Wish we all joy and honor. SENATORS To Coriolanus come all joy and honor! Flourish cornets. Then they exit. Sicinius and Brutus remain. | Coriolanus is not happy about this, but he promises the Senate he'll do it anyway. Everyone exits except Sicinius and Brutus. |