of Noble and Romanes 5 3

Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecians and Romanes 5 I 3 there to enriche them selves, whilest the other Consul and their fellowe cittizens peradventure were fighting with their enemies: and howe that leaving the spoyle they should seeke to winde them selves out of daunger and perill. l Howbeit, erie, and saye to them what he could, very fewe of them would hearken to him. Wherefore taking those that willingly offered them selves to followe him, he went out of the cittie, and tooke his waye towardes that parte, where he understoode the rest of the armie was: exhorting and in treating them by the waye that followed him, not to be fainte harted, and ofte holding up his handes to heaven, he besought the goddes to be so gracious and favorable unto him, that he might come in time to the batteH, and in good hower to hazarde his life in defence of his country men. Now the Romaines when they were put in batteH raye, and ready to take their targettes on their armes, and to guirde them upon their arming coates, had a custome to make their willes at that very instant, without any manner of writing, naming him only whom they would make their heire, in the presence of three or foure witnesses.2 Martius came just to that reckoning, whilest the souldiers were a doing after that sorte, and that the enemies were approched so neere, as one stoode in viewe of the other. When they sawe him at his first comming, all bloody, and in a swet,:I and but with a fewe men following him: some thereupon beganne to be afeard. But sone after, when they sawe him ronne with a lively cheere to the Consul and to take him by the hande, declaring howe he had taken the cittie of Corioles, and that they sawe the Consul Cominius also kisse and embrace him: then there was not a man but tooke harte againe to him, and beganne to be of a good corage, some hearing him reporte from poynte to poynte, the happy successe of this exployte, and other also conjecturing it by seeing their gestures a farre of. Then they all beganne to call upon the Consul to marche forward, and to delaye no lenger, but to geve charge upon the enemie.4 Martius asked him howe the order of their enemies battell was, and on which side they had placed their best fighting men. The Consul made him aunswer, that he thought the bandes which were in the voward of their battell, were those of the Antiates, whom they esteemed to be the warlikest men, and which for valliant cor age would geve no place, to any of the hoste of their enemies. Then prayed Martius, to be set directly against them.5 The Consul graunted him, greatly praysing his corage. Then Martius, when both armies came almost to joyne, advaunced him

selfe a good space before his companie, and went so fiercely to geve charge on the voward that came right against him, that they could stande no lenger in his han des : he made suche a lane through them, and opened a passage into the battell of the enemies. But the two winges of either side turned one to the other, to compasse him in betweene them: which the Consul Com in ius perceyving, he sent thither straight of the best souldiers he had about him.1 So the battell was marvelous bloudie about Martius, and in a very shorte space many were slaine in the place. But in the ende the Romaines were so strong, that they distressed the enemies, and brake their alTaye: and scattering them, made them flye. Then they prayed Martius that he would retire to the campe, bicause they sawe he was able to doe no more, he was already so wearied with the great payne he had taken, and so fainte with the great woundes, he had apon him.2 But Martius aunswered them, that it was not for conquerours to yeld, nor to be fainte harted: and thereupon beganne a freshe to chase those that fled, untill suche time as the armie of the enemies was utterly overthrowen, and numbers of them slaine, and taken prisoners.3 The next morning betimes, Martius went to the Consul, and the other Romaines with him. There the Consul Cominius going up to his chayer of state, in the presence of the whole armie, gave thankes to the goddes for so great, glorious, and prosperous a victorie: then he spake to Martius, whose valliantnes he commended beyond the moone, both for that he him selfe sawe him doe with his eyes, as also for that Martius had reported unto him.4 So in the ende he willed Martius, he should choose out of all the horses they had taken of their enemies, and of all the goodes they had wonne (whereof there was great store) tenne of every sorte which he liked best, before any distribution should be made to other. 5 Besides this great honorable offer he had made him, he gave him in testimonie that he had wonne that daye the price of prowes above all other, a goodly horse with a capparison,6 and all furniture to him: which the whole armie beholding, dyd marvelously praise and commend.7 But Martius stepping forth, tolde the Consul, he most thanckefully accepted the gifte of his horse, and was a glad man besides, that his service had deserved his generalIs commendation: and as for his other offer, which was rather a mercenary reward, then an honorable recompence, he would none of it, but

was contented to have his equall parte with other souldiers.l Only, this grace (sayed he) I crave, and beseeche you to graunt me. Among the Volsces there is an olde friende and hoste of mine, an honest wealthie man, and now a prisoner, who living before in great wealth in his owne countrie, liveth now a poore prisoner in the handes of his enemies: and yet notwithstanding all this his miserie and misfortune, it would doe me great pleasure if I could save him ii'om this one daunger: to keepe him from being solde as a slave. 2 The souldiers hearing Martius wordes, made a marvelous great showte among them: and they were moe that wondred at his great contentation and abstinence, when they sawe so litle covetousnes in him, then they were that highely praised and extolled his valliantnes. For even they them selves, that dyd somewhat malice and envie his glorie, to see him thus honoured, and passingly praysed, dyd thincke him so muche the more worthy of an honorable recompence for his valliant service, as the more carelesly he refused the great offer made him for his profit: and they esteemed more the vertue that was in him, that made him refuse suche rewards, then that which made them to be offred him, as unto a worthie persone. For it is farre more commendable, to use riches well, then to be valliant: and yet it is better not to desire them, then to use them well. 3 After this showte and noyse of the assembly was somewhat appeased, the Consul Cominius beganne to speake in this sorte: We cannot compell Martius to take these giftes we offer him, ifhe will not receave them: but we will geve him suche a rewarde for the noble service he hath done, as he cannot refuse. Therefore we doe order and decree, that henceforth he be called Coriolanus, onles his valliant acts have wonne him that name before our nomination.4 And so ever since, he stil bare the third name of Coriolanus. And thereby it appeareth, that the first name the Romaines have, as Caius: was our Christian name now. The second, as Martius: was the name of the house and familie they came of. Ii The third, was some addition geven, either for some acte cr notable service, or for some marke on their face, or of some shape of their bodie, or els for some speciaII vertue they had. Even so dyd the Gnccians in olde time give additions to Princes, by reason of some notable acte worthie memorie ....