scars and gashes that were still visible on his body； from the many
conflicts in which he had signalized himself during a service of
seventeen years together； they were； so to say； put out of countenance
at this display of merit； and told one another that they ought in
common modesty to create him consul。 But when the day of election
was now come； and Marcius appeared in the forum； with a pompous
train of senators attending him； and the patricians all manifested
greater concern； and seemed to be exerting greater efforts； than
they had ever done before on the like occasion； the commons then
fell off again from the kindness they had conceived for him； and in
the place of their late benevolence； began to feel something of
indignation and envy； passions assisted by the fear they
entertained； that if a man of such aristocratic temper and so
influential among the patricians should be invested with the power
which that office would give him； he might employ it to deprive the
people of all that liberty which was yet left them。 In conclusion；
they rejected Marcius。 Two other names were announced； to the great
mortification of the senators； who felt as if the indignity
reflected rather upon themselves than on Marcius。 He； for his part；
could not bear the affront with any patience。 He had always indulged
his temper； and had regarded the proud and contentious element of
human nature as a sort of nobleness and magnanimity； reason and
discipline had not imbued him with that solidity and equanimity
which enters so largely into the virtues of the statesman。 He had
never learned how essential it is for any one who undertakes public
business； and desires to deal with mankind； to avoid above all
things that self…will； which； as Plato says； belongs to the family
of solitude； and to pursue； above all things； that capacity so
generally ridiculed； of submission to ill…treatment。 Marcius；
straightforward and direct； and possessed with the idea that to
vanquish and overbear all opposition is the true part of bravery；
and never imagining that it was the weakness and womanishness of his
nature that broke out； so to say； in these ulcerations of anger；
retired； full of fury and bitterness against the people。 The young
patricians； too； all that were proudest and most conscious of their
noble birth； had always been devoted to his interest； and； adhering to
him now； with a fidelity that did him no good； aggravated his
resentment with the expression of their indignation and condolence。 He
had been their captain； and their willing instructor in the arts of
war； when out upon expeditions； and their model in that true emulation
and love of excellence which makes men extol； without envy or
jealousy； each other's brave achievements。
In the midst of these distempers； a large quantity of corn reached
Rome； a great part bought up in Italy； but an equal amount sent as a
present from Syracuse； from Gelo； then reigning there。 Many began
now to hope well of their affairs； supposing the city； by this
means； would be delivered at once； both of its want and discord。 A
council； therefore； being presently held； the people came flocking
about the senate…house； eagerly awaiting the issue of that
deliberation； expecting that the market…prices would now be less
cruel； and that what had come as gift would be distributed as such。
There were some within who so advised the senate； but Marcius；
standing up； sharply inveighed against those who spoke in favour of
the multitude； calling them flatterers of the rabble； traitors to
the nobility； and alleging； that； by such gratifications； they did but
cherish those ill seeds of boldness and petulance that had been sown
among the people； to their own prejudice； which they should have
done well to observe and stifle at their first appearance； and not
have suffered the plebeians to grow so strong； by granting them
magistrates of such authority as the tribunes。 They were； indeed； even
now formidable to the state since everything they desired was
granted them； no constraint was put on their will； they refused
obedience to the consuls and； overthrowing all law and magistracy；
gave the title of magistrate to their private factious leaders。
〃When things are come to such a pass for us to sit here and decree
largesses and bounties for them； like those Greeks where the
populace is supreme and absolute； what would it be else；〃 said he；
〃but to take their disobedience into pay and maintain it for the
common ruin of us all？ They certainly cannot look upon these
liberalities as a reward of public service； which they know they
have so often deserted； nor yet of those secessions； by which they
openly renounce their country； much less of the calumnies and slanders
they have been always so ready to entertain against the senate； but
will rather conclude that a bounty； which seems to have no other
visible cause or reason； must needs be the effect of our fear and
flattery； and will； therefore； set no limit to their disobedience； nor
ever cease from disturbances and sedition。 Concession is mere madness；
if we have any wisdom and resolution at all； we shall； on the
contrary； never rest till we have recovered from them that tribunician
power they have extorted from us； as being a plain subversion of the
consulship； and a perpetual ground of separation in our city that is
no longer one； as heretofore； but has in this received such a wound
and rupture as is never likely to close and unite again； or suffer
us to be of one mind； and to give over inflaming our distempers； and
being a torment to each other。〃
Marcius； with much more to this purpose； succeeded； to an
extraordinary degree； in inspiring the younger men with the same
furious sentiments； and had almost all the wealthy on his side； who
cried him up as the only person their city had； superior alike to
force and flattery； some of the older men； however； opposed him；
suspecting the consequences。 As； indeed； there came no good of it； for
the tribunes； who were present； perceiving how the proposal of Marcius
took； ran out into the crowd with exclamations； calling on the
plebeians to stand together； and come in to their assistance。 The
assembly met； and soon became tumultuous。 The sum of what Marcius
had spoken； having been reported to the people； excited them to such
fury； that they were ready to break in upon the senate。 The tribunes
prevented this； by laying all the blame on Coriolanus； whom；
therefore； they cited by their messengers to come before them and
defend himself。 And when he contemptuously repulsed the officers who
brought him the summons； they came themselves； with the Aediles； or
overseers of the market； proposing to carry him away by force； and；
accordingly； began to lay hold on his person。 The patricians； however；
coming to his rescue； not only thrust off the tribunes； but also
beat the Aediles； that were their seconds in the quarrel； night
approaching； put an end to the contest。 But； as soon as it was day；
the consuls； observing the people to be highly exasperated； and that
they ran from all quarters and gathered in the forum； were afraid
for the whole city； so that； convening the senate afresh； they desired
them to advise how they might best compose and pacify the incensed
multitude by equitable language and indulgent decrees； since； if
they wisely considered the state of things； they would find that it
was no time to stand upon terms of honour and a mere point of glory；
such a critical conjuncture called for gentle methods； and for
temperate and humane counsels。 The majority； therefore； of the
senators giving way； the consuls proceeded to pacify the people in the
best manner they were able； answering gently to such imputations and
charges as had been cast upon the senate； and using much tenderness
and moderation in the admonitions and reproofs they gave them。 On
the point of the price of provisions； they said there should be no
difference at all between them。 When a great part of the commonalty
was grown cool； and it appeared from their orderly and peaceful
behaviour that they had been very much appeased by what they had
heard； the tribunes； standing up； declared； in the name of the people；
that since the senate was pleased to act soberly and do them reason；
they； likewise； should be ready to yield in all that was fair and
equitable on their side； they must insist； however； that Marcius
should give in his answer to the several charges as follows： first；
could he deny that he instigated the senate to overthrow the
government and annul the privileges of the people？ and； in the next
place； when called to account for it； did he not disobey the
summons？ and； lastly； by the blows and other public affronts to the
Aediles； had he not done all he could to commence a civil war？
These articles were brought in against him； with a design either
to humble Marcius； and show his submission； if； contrary to his
nature； he should now court and sue the people； or； if he should
follow his natural disposition； which they rather expected from
their judgment of his character； then that he might thus make the
breach final between himself and the people。
He came； therefore； as it were； to make his apology； and clear
himself； in which belief the people kept silence； and gave him a quiet
hearing。 But when； instead of the submissive and deprecatory
language expected from him； he began to use not only an offensive kind
of freedom； seeming rather to accuse than apologize； but； as well by
the tone of his voice as the air of his countenance； displayed a
security that was not far from disdain and contempt of them； the whole
multitude then became angry； and gave evident signs of impatience
and disgust； and Sicinnius； the most violent of the tribunes； after
a little private conference with his colleagues； proceeded solemnly to
pronounce before them all； that Marcius was condemned to die by the
tribunes of the people； and bid the Aediles take him to the Tarpeian
rock； and without delay throw him headlong from the precipice。 When
they； however； in compliance with the order； came to seize upon his
body； many； even of the plebeian party； felt it to be a horrible and
extravagant act； the patri