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Sir, I hope
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My words disbench'd you not.
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CORIOLANUS:
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No, sir: yet oft,
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When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.
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You soothed not, therefore hurt not: but
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your people,
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I love them as they weigh.
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MENENIUS:
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Pray now, sit down.
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CORIOLANUS:
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I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun
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When the alarum were struck than idly sit
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To hear my nothings monster'd.
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MENENIUS:
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Masters of the people,
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Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter--
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That's thousand to one good one--when you now see
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He had rather venture all his limbs for honour
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Than one on's ears to hear it? Proceed, Cominius.
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COMINIUS:
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I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus
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Should not be utter'd feebly. It is held
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That valour is the chiefest virtue, and
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Most dignifies the haver: if it be,
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The man I speak of cannot in the world
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Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years,
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When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought
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Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator,
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Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,
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When with his Amazonian chin he drove
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The bristled lips before him: be bestrid
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An o'er-press'd Roman and i' the consul's view
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Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met,
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And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats,
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When he might act the woman in the scene,
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He proved best man i' the field, and for his meed
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Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age
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Man-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea,
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And in the brunt of seventeen battles since
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He lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last,
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Before and in Corioli, let me say,
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I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers;
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And by his rare example made the coward
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Turn terror into sport: as weeds before
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A vessel under sail, so men obey'd
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And fell below his stem: his sword, death's stamp,
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Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot
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He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
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Was timed with dying cries: alone he enter'd
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The mortal gate of the city, which he painted
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With shunless destiny; aidless came off,
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And with a sudden reinforcement struck
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Corioli like a planet: now all's his:
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When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce
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His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit
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Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,
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And to the battle came he; where he did
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Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if
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'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'd
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Both field and city ours, he never stood
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To ease his breast with panting.
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MENENIUS:
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Worthy man!
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First Senator:
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He cannot but with measure fit the honours
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Which we devise him.
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COMINIUS:
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Our spoils he kick'd at,
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And look'd upon things precious as they were
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The common muck of the world: he covets less
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Than misery itself would give; rewards
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His deeds with doing them, and is content
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To spend the time to end it.
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MENENIUS:
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He's right noble:
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Let him be call'd for.
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First Senator:
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Call Coriolanus.
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Officer:
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He doth appear.
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MENENIUS:
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The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased
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To make thee consul.
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CORIOLANUS:
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I do owe them still
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My life and services.
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