Coriolanus Act 2.14 & 2.15

Scene 2.1.5

The duller side of the parade

Both the Consuls elected by the Commoners; Brutus and Sicinius had moved from the street since listening to the verbal charade with Menenius. The crowds dispersed but they still stood there watching he tailed of the parade that snaked to the next street.

“All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights are spectacled to see him.” Brutus spat his words but Sicinius held counsel on that. He was at one stage awed by the hero too.

“On the sudden, I warrant him consul.”

“Then our office may during his power go sleep.” Brutus echoed his thoughts.

“He cannot transport his honors from where he should begin and end, but will lose those he had won.” Sicinius corrected himself that the glory of the hero would be his downfall.

“In that there’s comfort.” Brutus sighed out in relief.

“The commoners for whom we stand, but they upon their ancient malice will forget with the least cause these his new honors; which that he will give make I as little question as he is proud to do it.” Sicinius showered contempt on the hero.

“I heard him swear, were he to stand for consul, never would he appeared in the market place, nor on him put the napless vesture of humility; nor showing as the manner is his wounds to the people, beg their stinking breaths.”

“I wish him no better then have him hold that purpose and to put it in execution.” Sicinius replied.

“So it must fall out. We must suggest the people in what hatred he still had held them; that to power he would had made them mules, silenced their pleaders and disproportion their freedoms, holding them in human action and capacity.” Brutus was more vocal in his words.

“This, as you say, suggested that at some time when his soaring insolence shall touch the people, he be put upon and that’s as easy as to set dogs on sheep.” Sicinius spoke up. It was then a messenger arrived.

“You are sent for to the Senate. It’s thought that Marcius shall be consul.” The messenger was blunt to add on. “I have seen dumb men throng to see him and the blind to hear him speak; matrons flung gloves, ladies and maids their scarf’s upon him as he passed. I never saw the like.”

“Let’s to the Senate, and carry with us ears and eyes for the time but hearts for the event.” Brutus spoke up and made haste to the Senate.

Scene 2.2.1

The Senate

The Senate Hall was placed inside the Grand Palace of Rome; a lavish architecture design with three main structures, separated by the moats and co-joined by the beautifully inlaid decorated short bridges with the seas of flower beds. The maintenance crews had even released in domicile creatures to roam the grounds for their appealing looks where the young apprentices will scour the grounds for the droppings to be removed in bags or re-planted as fertilizers. The three main structures are the Senate Main Hall, where the two hundred and thirteen Consuls had their names mounted on the individual seats, although some seats had never been used. The structure was designed in the shape of an eagle with its wings flapped out wide, which was the twin extended corridors of the Main Hall. The back of the eagle was the rectangle hall where the main corridor to the dome structure at the end where the Main Hall of the Senate lies. To the many critics of the design, they had likened it to the bowels of the Senate. The Law Hall to the right of the middle structure was where all the enactments will have its reading there before the final version will be submitted to the Consuls for vote in the Main Hall. The other structure on the left was named the General Hall, although its real function was only known to the Consuls. It was their personal club with the full facilities for relaxation. The Commoners were hidden of this knowledge by their appointed Consuls who had partaken in it.

The Main Hall was as described above was a dome lined with all the seats mentioned above, lined similarly with one seat that was stationed on the raised podium in the centre of the Hall. It was the two hundred and thirteenth seats which belonged to the Speaker. He was the whip hand in the Senate, who was empowered to remove anyone for disrespect of the Senate rules and regulation. He does exercise well his authority with all the Consuls that were not of Noble descent not once but at least more than thrice. It became a joke then among the Consuls that to be struck more than thrice was the entry requirement to be named veteran.

On that eventful day, the Main Hall was prepared for the coming sitting of the Consul. It was called to debate on the appointment of Coriolanus to the Senate. The officers were what they were called officially, but behind their backs, they were named the cleaners. They came in pulling an electric cart that held their tools.

“Come, come they are almost here.” The one who spoke was in the butler suit but it was a shaded in crimson, while around his neck was the dark yellow scarf while his head was covered by the top hat favored by the staff. He was named Albert; he had a well rounded girth with his tapered legs, while on his face was the thin moustache. He grabbed the rounded mechanical gadget and turned it on. The gadget will move across the flooring removing the dirt and waste. It will suck them up through the opening and stored for disposal later.

“How many stands for consulship?” Albert asked while he activated the next unit. That one won’t start so he had kick at it to get it moving. He looked to his friend who was releasing the sweeper drones; they are shaped   like beetles. From the back of the beetles are a set of propellers. He turned each one and then it will fly towards the ceiling to seek out dusts.

Such wonderful invention when the Romans are not fighting wars.

“Three, they say; but it’s in thought of every one, Coriolanus will be the one.” The other named Castella replied. He was a thin chap with his butler uniform ill fit by two sized bigger, while his top hat had no cover on the tip. His expression was indifferent on the subject he may touch on.

“That’s a brave fellow; but he’s vengeance proud and loves not the Commoners’.” Albert recalled the hero. He had seen the man once. Charming guy, sweeter personality and yet, he’s a Noble.

“Faith!” Castella replied. He looked to the seats. He had an officer far too long. He knew their habits and preference at the Hall. “There been many great men that had flattered the people, who never loved them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore: so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground.”

Albert was the dense one, rubbed his nose and shook his head. He was unsure how Castella could sometimes utter those words. The other looked to Albert and continued on.

“Therefore, for Coriolanus, neither to care whether they love or hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and out of his noble carelessness lets they plainly see it.”

“If he did not care whether he had their love or no,” Albert sighed. “He waved indifferently doing them neither good or harm. But he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him their opposite.”

The wonderment of the mind even in idiots, they sometimes do speak wisely in some instances. But it was few in between.

“He hath deserved worthily of his country; and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who have been supple and courteous to the people, bonneted without any further deed to have them at all, into their estimation and report.” Castella defended the hero. “But he had planted his honors in their eyes and his actions in their hearts that for their tongues to be silent and not confess to much were a kind of in grateful injury; to otherwise were a malice that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.”

Albert looked to his friend who spoke in those words. Such strong wordings, and then he saw Castella holding the piece of paper. He waved it at Albert. It was probably a sheet of prepared speech from some past debates. Damned! The imbecile reads everything he finds. He heard then the parading of boots in the corridor.

“No more of him; he’s a worthy man.” Albert when he completed the statement, his brows cringed while he scanned the row of seats. “Make way, they are coming.”

The two officers called back the machines with a whistle like the sheep dogs.

Such wonderful invention when the Romans are not fighting wars.