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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； aidless came off； And with a sudden re…
enforcement struck Corioli like a planet。 Now all's his。 When by and by
the din of war 'gan pierce His ready sense； then straight his doubled spirit
Re…quick'ned what in flesh was fatigate； And to the battle came he； where
he did Run reeking o'er the lives of men； as if 'Twere a perpetual spoil； and
till we call'd 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 honours Which we devise him。 COMINIUS。 Our
spoils he kick'd at； And look'd upon things precious as they were The
common muck of the world。 He covets less Than misery itself would give；
rewards His deeds with doing them； and is content To spend the time to
end it。 MENENIUS。 He's right noble； Let him be call'd for。 FIRST
SENATOR。 Call Coriolanus。 OFFICER。 He doth appear。
Re…enter CORIOLANUS
MENENIUS。 The Senate； Coriolanus； are well pleas'd To make thee
consul。 CORIOLANUS。 I do owe them still My life and services。
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 For my wounds'
sake to give their suffrage。 Please you That I may pass this doing。
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CORIOLANUS
SICINIUS。 Sir； the people Must have their voices； neither will they bate
One jot of ceremony。 MENENIUS。 Put them not to't。 Pray you go fit you
to the custom； and Take to you； as your predecessors have； Your honour
with your form。 CORIOLANUS。 It is a part That I shall blush in acting；
and might well Be taken from the people。 BRUTUS。 Mark you that？
CORIOLANUS。 To brag unto them 'Thus I did； and thus！' Show them th'
unaching scars which I should hide； As if I had receiv'd them for the hire
Of their breath only！ MENENIUS。 Do not stand upon't。 We recommend to
you； Tribunes of the People； Our purpose to them； and to our noble consul
Wish we all joy and honour。 SENATORS。 To Coriolanus come all joy and
honour！ ＇Flourish。 Cornets。 Then exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS＇
BRUTUS。 You see how he intends to use the people。 SICINIUS。 May they
perceive's intent！ He will require them As if he did contemn what he
requested Should be in them to give。 BRUTUS。 Come； we'll inform them
Of our proceedings here。 On th' market…place I know they do attend us。
Exeunt
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CORIOLANUS
SCENE III。 Rome。 The Forum
Enter seven or eight citizens
FIRST CITIZEN。 Once； if he do require our voices； we ought not to
deny him。 SECOND CITIZEN。 We may； sir； if we will。 THIRD CITIZEN。
We have power in ourselves to do it； but it is a power that we have no
power to do； for if he show us his wounds and tell us his deeds； we are to
put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them； so； if he tell us his
noble deeds； we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them。
Ingratitude is monstrous； and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to
make a monster of the multitude； of the which we being members should
bring ourselves to be monstrous members。 FIRST CITIZEN。 And to make
us no better thought of； a little help will serve； for once we stood up about
the corn； he himself stuck not to call us the many…headed multitude。
THIRD CITIZEN。 We have been call'd so of many； not that our heads are
some brown； some black； some auburn； some bald； but that our wits are so
diversely colour'd； and truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of one
skull； they would fly east； west； north； south； and their consent of one
direct way should be at once to all the points o' th' compass。 SECOND
CITIZEN。 Think you so？ Which way do you judge my wit would fly？
THIRD CITIZEN。 Nay； your wit will not so soon out as another man's
will… 'tis strongly wedg'd up in a block…head； but if it were at liberty
'twould sure southward。 SECOND CITIZEN。 Why that way？ THIRD
CITIZEN。 To lose itself in a fog； where being three parts melted away
with rotten dews； the fourth would return for conscience' sake； to help to
get thee a wife。 SECOND CITIZEN。 You are never without your tricks；
you may； you may。 THIRD CITIZEN。 Are you all resolv'd to give your
voices？ But that's no matter； the greater part carries it。 I say； if he would
incline to the people； there was never a worthier man。
Enter CORIOLANUS； in a gown of humility； with MENENIUS
Here he comes； and in the gown of humility。 Mark his behaviour。 We
are not to stay all together； but to come by him where he stands； by ones；
by twos； and by threes。 He's to make his requests by particulars； wherein
every one of us has a single honour； in giving him our own voices with our
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CORIOLANUS
own tongues； therefore follow me； and I'll direct you how you shall go by
him。 ALL。 Content； content。 Exeunt citizens MENENIUS。 O sir； you are
not right； have you not known The worthiest men have done't？
CORIOLANUS。 What must I say？ 'I pray； sir'… Plague upon't！ I cannot
bring My tongue to such a pace。 'Look； sir； my wounds I got them in my
country's service； when Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran From
th' noise of our own drums。' MENENIUS。 O me； the gods！ You must not
speak of that。 You must desire them To think upon you。 CORIOLANUS。
Think upon me？ Hang 'em！ I would they would forget me； like the virtues
Which our divines lose by 'em。 MENENIUS。 You'll mar all。 I'll leave you。
Pray you speak to 'em； I pray you； In wholesome manner。 Exit
Re…enter three of the citizens
CORIOLANUS。 Bid them