Cor. No, sir: yet oft,[2930]
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.
You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: but your people,[2931] 70
I love them as they weigh.[2932]
Men. Pray now, sit down.
Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun
When the alarum were struck than idly sit[2933]
To hear my nothings monster'd. [Exit.[2934]
Men. Masters of the people,
Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter—[2935] 75
That's thousand to one good one—when you now see[2936]
He had rather venture all his limbs for honour
Than one on's ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius.[2937]
Com. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus
Should not be utter'd feebly. It is held[2938] 80
That valour is the chiefest virtue and[2939]
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 85
Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,
Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,
When with his Amazonian chin he drove[2940]
The bristled lips before him: he bestrid[2941]
An o'er-press'd Roman, and i' the consul's view 90
Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met,
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' the field, and for his meed
Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age[2942] 95
Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea;[2943]
And, in the brunt of seventeen battles since,
He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last,[2944]
Before and in Corioli, let me say,
I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers; 100
And by his rare example made the coward
Turn terror into sport: as weeds before[2945]
A vessel under sail, so men obey'd,
And fell below his stem: his sword, death's stamp,[2946]
Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot[2947] 105
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion[2947]
Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd[2948]
The mortal gate of the city, which he painted[2949]
With shunless destiny; aidless came off,[2950]
And with a sudden re-enforcement struck 110
Corioli like a planet: now all's his:[2951]
When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce[2952]
His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit[2953]
Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,
And to the battle came he; where he did 115
Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if[2954][2955]
'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'd[2954]
Both field and city ours, he never stood
To ease his breast with panting.[2956]
Men. Worthy man!
First Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honours[2957][2958][2959] 120
Which we devise him.[2958]
Com. Our spoils he kick'd at,
And look'd upon things precious, as they were
The common muck of the world: he covets less[2960]
Than misery itself would give; rewards[2961][2962]
His deeds with doing them, and is content[2961] 125
To spend the time to end it.[2963]
Men. He's right noble:[2964]
Let him be call'd for.[2964]
First Sen. Call Coriolanus.[2965]