You must in no way say he is covetous;
and the First rejoins:
If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition.
(I. i. 43.)
We have seen how Shakespeare adopts from Plutarch the motive for the plebeians’ initial support of Coriolanus at the election, but he makes it a more striking instance of their fairness, for he represents them as quite aware and mindful of the reasons on the other side.
Fourth Citizen. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly.
Coriolanus. Your enigma?
Fourth Citizen. You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have been a rod to her friends; you have not indeed loved the common people.
(II. iii. 94.)
It is all very well for the candidate to turn this off with a flout, but it is the sober truth. That the despised plebeian should see both sides of the case shows in him more sanity of judgment than Coriolanus ever possessed: that he should nevertheless cast his vote for such an applicant shows more generosity as well. And the generosity, if also the simplicity, of the electors is likewise made more pronounced than in Plutarch by their persevering in their course despite the scorn with which Coriolanus treats them; of which Plutarch of course knows nothing. Even that they forgive till the tribunes irritate the wounds and predict more fatal ones from the new weapon that has been put into such ruthless hands.