Page 2824 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Nay, keep your place.

FIRST SENATOR
Sit, Coriolanus, never shame to hear [65]
What you have nobly done.

CORIOLANUS
Your honours’ pardon.
I had rather have my wounds to heal again

Than hear say how I got them.

BRUTUS
Sir, I hope
My words disbenched you not.

CORIOLANUS
No, sir. Yet oft,
When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. [70]

You soothed not, therefore hurt not. But your people,
I love them as they weigh −

MENENIUS
Pray now, sit down.

CORIOLANUS
I had rather have one scratch my head i’th’sun
When the alarum were struck than idly sit

To hear my nothings monstered.
Exit Coriolanus.

MENENIUS
Masters of the people, [75]
Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter −

That’s thousand to one good one − when you now see
He had rather venture all his limbs for honour
Than one on’s ears to hear it. Proceed, Cominius.