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.
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