Scene II. The same. The Capitol.
Enter two Officers, to lay cushions.[2902]
First Off. Come, come, they are almost here. How
many stand for consulships?
Sec. Off. Three, they say: but 'tis thought of every
one Coriolanus will carry it.
First Off. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance 5
proud, and loves not the common people.
Sec. Off. Faith, there have 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 know not why, they hate upon no 10
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.[2903]
First Off. If he did not care whether he had their love 15
or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good[2904]
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 their opposite. Now, to seem
to affect the malice and displeasure of the people is as bad 20
as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.
Sec. Off. He hath deserved worthily of his country: and
his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who, having[2905]
been supple and courteous to the people, bonneted, without[2906]
any further deed to have them at all into their estimation[2906][2907] 25
and report: but he hath so planted his honours in their
eyes and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues
to 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 30
every ear that heard it.
First Off. No more of him; he's a worthy man: make[2908]
way, they are coming.
A sennet. Enter, with Lictors before them, Cominius the Consul, Menenius, Coriolanus, Senators, Sicinius and Brutus. The Senators take their places; the Tribunes take their place by themselves. Coriolanus stands.[2909]