d shown in
battle. The very persons who conceived some envy and despite to see him
so specially honored, could not but acknowledge, that one who so nobly
could refuse reward, was beyond others worth to receive it; and were
more charmed with that virtue which made him despise advantage, than
with any of those former actions that had gained him his title to it. It
is a higher accomplishment to use money well than to use arms; but not
to need it is more noble than to use it.

When the noise of approbation and applause ceased, Cominius, resuming,
said, "It is idle, fellow-soldiers, to force those other gifts of ours
on one who is unwilling to accept them; let us, therefore, give him
one of such a kind that he cannot well reject it; let us pass a vote,
I mean, that he shall hereafter be called Coriolanus, unless you
think that his performance at Corioli has itself anticipated any such
resolution." Hence, therefore, he had his third name of Coriolanus,
making it all the plainer that Gaius was a personal proper name, and
the second, or surname, Marcius, one common to his house and family; the
third being a subsequent addition which used to be imposed either from
particular act or fortune, bodily characteristic, or good quality of the
bearer.

Not long after Marcius stood for the consulship. It was usual for
candidates for office to solicit personally the citizens, presenting
themselves in the forum with the toga on alone, and no tunic under it;
either to promote their supplications by the humility of their dress, or
that such as had received wounds might more readily display those marks
of their fortitude.

Marcius, therefore, as the fashion of candidates was, showing the 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, the people were affected 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 had come, and Marcius appeared in the forum
with a pompous train of senators attending him, and the patricians all
seemed to be exerting greater effort than they had ever done before on a
similar 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 ari