Coriolanus Page #3

performed by Caius Martius Coriolanus.

- Speak, good Cominius.

- Aye.

- Nay, keep your place.

- Sit, Coriolanus.

Never shame to hear

what you have nobly done.

Your honor's pardon. I'd rather

have my wounds to heal again

- than hear say how I got them.

- Pray you, sit down.

I'd rather have one

scratch my head in the sun

when the alarm were struck

than idly sit to hear

my nothings monstered.

- Speak, good Cominius.

- Aye, proceed.

The deeds of Coriolanus

should not be uttered feebly.

It is held that valor

is the chiefest virtue,

and most dignifies the haver.

If it be, the man I speak of

cannot in the world

be singly counterpoised.

At 16 years,

he fought beyond the mark of others.

When he might act

the woman in the scene,

he proved best man in the field.

And in the brunt of 17 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 fliers,

and by his rare example,

made coward turn terror into sport,

from face to foot.

He was a thing of blood, whose every

motion was timed with dying cries.

Alone, he entered

the mortal gate of the city,

which he painted with shunless destiny.

Aidless came off,

and with a sudden re-enforcement

struck Corioles like a planet.

Until we called

both field and city ours,

he never stood to ease

his breast with panting.

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 his deeds with doing them,

and is content to spend

the time to end it.

The senate, Coriolanus,

are well pleased to make thee consul.

Aye.

I do owe them still

my life and services.

It then remains

that you do speak to the people.

I do beseech you,

let me overleap that custom,

for I cannot entreat them for my wounds'

sake to give their suffrage.

Please you that I may pass this doing.

Sir! The people must have their voices.

Pray you, go fit you to the custom.

It is a part that I shall blush

in acting, and might well be taken

- from the people.

- Mark you that?

To brag unto them

"Thus I did, and thus!"

Show them the unaching scars

which I should hide,

as if I had received them

for the hire of their breath only.

To our noble consul

wish we all joy and honor!

The senate, Coriolanus, are

well pleased to make thee consul!

I do owe them still

my life and services.

It then remains that

you do speak to the people.

Let me overleap that custom.

The people must have their voices.

Have you not known

the worthiest men have done it?

Custom calls me to it.

What custom wills,

in all things should we do it.

What must I say?

"Look, sir, my wounds.

I got them in my country's service."

O me, the gods!

You must not speak like that.

You must desire them to think upon you.

Think upon me?

Hang 'em.

I would they would forget me.

Pray you, speak to them.

I pray you, in wholesome manner.

Bid them wash their faces

and keep their teeth clean.

You know the cause, sir,

of my standing here?

We do, sir. Tell us

what hath brought you to it.

- Mine own desert.

- Your own desert?

- Aye, but not mine own desire.

- How not your own desire?

No, it was never my desire

yet to trouble the poor with begging.

You must think, if we give you anything,

we hope to gain by you.

Well then, I pray,

your price of the consulship?

The price is to ask it kindly.

Kindly, sir, I pray, let me have it.

I have wounds to show you,

which shall be yours in private.

Your good voice, sir. What say you?

- You shall have it, worthy sir.

- A match, sir.

There's in all two

worthy voices begged. Adieu.

But this is something odd.

Pray you now, if it may stand

with the tune of your voice

that I may be consul.

You've deserved nobly of your country,

and you've not deserved nobly.

Your enigma?

You've been a scourge to her enemies,

you've been a rod to her friends.

You've not indeed loved

the common people.

You should account me the more virtuous

that I have not been common in my love.

We hope to find you our friend,

and therefore give you

our voices heartily.

I'll make much of your voices,

and so trouble you no further.

Gods give you joy, sir, heartily.

Your voices!

For your voices I have fought.

Watched for your voices.

For your voices

bear of wounds two dozen odd.

Battles thrice six

I have seen and heard of!

For your voices have done many things,

some less, some more.

Your voices!

Indeed, I would be consul.

He has done nobly, and cannot go

without any honest man's voice!

- Aye.

- Aye.

Therefore, let him be consul!

- Amen!

- Amen!

Amen!

Amen!

Amen!

Worthy voices!

Worthy voices, worthy voices.

You have

stood your limitation.

And the tribunes now endow you

with the people's voice.

Is this done?

The custom of request

you have discharged.

The people do admit you,

and are summoned to meet anon

upon your approbation.

- Where? At the senate?

- There, Coriolanus.

- May I change these garments?

- You may, sir.

I'll keep you company. Will you along?

We stay here for the people.

God save thee, noble consul!

Consul! Consul!

Consul! Consul! Consul! Consul!

How now, my masters!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,

hey, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Whoa, my masters! My masters!

My masters, how now!

- Have you chose this man?

- Aye!

He has our voices, sir.

We pray the gods

he may deserve your loves.

Amen, sir.

To my poor, unworthy notice,

he mocked us when he begged our voices.

- He mocked us!

- Flouted us downright.

O, no, no, no,

it is his kind of speech.

- Aye.

- He did not mock us.

He should have showed us

his marks of merit,

- wounds received for his country.

- Yes!

- Why, I'm sure, so he did.

- No, he didn't!

No, no, no! No! No!

No one saw them!

Was this mockery?

Yes!

When he had no power, but was a petty

servant to the state, he was your enemy.

Ever spake against your liberties.

Did you perceive he did solicit

you in free contempt

when he did need your loves,

and do you think that his contempt

shall not be bruising to you

when he hath power to crush?

Aye!

It is not confirmed.

It is not confirmed!

We may deny him yet!

And will deny him!

I'll have 500 voices of that sound.

- Yes!

- I twice 500 and their friends!

Yes!

Get you hence instantly

and tell those friends

they have chose a consul that will

from them take their liberties!

Let them assemble,

and on a safer judgment,

all revoke your ignorant election.

Enforce his pride,

and his old hate unto you!

And, presently, when you have drawn

the number, repair to the senate.

Tullus Aufidius then

has assembled a new army?

He has, my lord.

- Saw you Aufidius?

- He's retired to Antium.

- Spoke he of me?

- He did, my lord.

How? What?

How often he had met you,

sword to sword.

That of all things upon the earth,

he hated your person most.

- At Antium lives he?

- At Antium.

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