Page 2822 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

If he did not care whether he had their [15] love or no, he waved indifferently
’twixt doing them neither good 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 [20] of the people is as bad as that which he dislikes − to flatter
them for their love.

SECOND OFFICER
He hath deserved worthily of his country; and his ascent is not by such easy
degrees as those who, having been supple and courteous to the people,

bonneted, without any further deed to have [25] them at all, into their
estimation 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 [30] itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear

that heard it.

FIRST OFFICER
No more of him, he’s a worthy man. Make way, they are coming.

A sennet. Enter the Patricians and the Tribunes of the People, Lictors
before them; Coriolanus, Menenius, Cominius the Consul. Sicinius and Brutus
take their places by themselves.

MENENIUS
Having determined of the Volsces and [35]
To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,
As the main point of this our after-meeting,
To gratify his noble service that

Hath thus stood for his country. Therefore please you,
Most reverend and grave elders, to desire [40]
The present consul and last general
In our well-found successes to report

A little of that worthy work performed
By Caius Martius Coriolanus, whom
We met here both to thank and to remember [45]
With honours like himself.