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Faith, there had been many great men that have
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flattered the people, who ne'er loved them; and there
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be many that they have loved, they know not
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wherefore: so that, if they love they know not why,
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they hate upon no better a ground: therefore, for
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Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate
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him manifests the true knowledge he has in their
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disposition; and out of his noble carelessness lets
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them plainly see't.
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First Officer:
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If he did not care whether he had their love or no,
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he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither
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good nor harm: but he seeks their hate with greater
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devotion than can render it him; and leaves
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nothing undone that may fully discover him their
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opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and
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displeasure of the people is as bad as that which he
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dislikes, to flatter them for their love.
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Second Officer:
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He hath deserved worthily of his country: and his
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ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who,
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having been supple and courteous to the people,
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bonneted, without any further deed to have them at
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an into their estimation and report: but he hath so
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planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions
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in their hearts, that for their tongues to be
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silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of
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ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a
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malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck
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reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.
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First Officer:
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No more of him; he is a worthy man: make way, they
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are coming.
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MENENIUS:
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Having determined of the Volsces and
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To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,
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As the main point of this our after-meeting,
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To gratify his noble service that
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Hath thus stood for his country: therefore,
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please you,
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Most reverend and grave elders, to desire
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The present consul, and last general
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In our well-found successes, to report
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A little of that worthy work perform'd
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By Caius Marcius Coriolanus, whom
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We met here both to thank and to remember
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With honours like himself.
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First Senator:
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Speak, good Cominius:
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Leave nothing out for length, and make us think
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Rather our state's defective for requital
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Than we to stretch it out.
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Masters o' the people,
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We do request your kindest ears, and after,
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Your loving motion toward the common body,
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To yield what passes here.
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SICINIUS:
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We are convented
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Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts
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Inclinable to honour and advance
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The theme of our assembly.
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BRUTUS:
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Which the rather
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We shall be blest to do, if he remember
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A kinder value of the people than
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He hath hereto prized them at.
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MENENIUS:
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That's off, that's off;
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I would you rather had been silent. Please you
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To hear Cominius speak?
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BRUTUS:
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Most willingly;
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But yet my caution was more pertinent
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Than the rebuke you give it.
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MENENIUS:
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He loves your people
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But tie him not to be their bedfellow.
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Worthy Cominius, speak.
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Nay, keep your place.
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First Senator:
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Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear
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What you have nobly done.
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CORIOLANUS:
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Your horror's pardon:
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I had rather have my wounds to heal again
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Than hear say how I got them.
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BRUTUS:
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