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When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce

His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit 120 Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate,

And to the battle came he; where he did

Run reeking o'er the lives of men, as if
'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'd
Both field and city ours, he never stood

To ease his breast with panting.

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And look'd upon things precious as they were
The common muck of the world: he covets less
Than misery itself would give; rewards

His deeds with doing them, and is content
To spend the time to end it.

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Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased

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Let me o'erleap that custom, for I cannot

140. that custom. Plutarch tells that suitors went in a toga the principal and peculiarly Roman garment - without tunica, or woollen sleeveless

a

130

140

undergarment. North translated Amyot's rendering of this, 'un robbe simple, sans saye dessoules,' by a simple gown .. without any coat under it.'

Put on the gown, stand naked and entreat them, For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please

you

That I may pass this doing.

Sic.

Sir, the people

Must have their voices; neither will they bate
One jot of ceremony.

Men.

Put them not to 't:

Pray you, go fit you to the custom and

Take to you, as your predecessors have,
Your honour with your form.

Cor.

It is a part

That I shall blush in acting, and might well

Be taken from the people.

Bru.

Mark you that ?

Cor. To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus ; Show them the unaching scars which I should hide, As if I had received them for the hire

Of their breath only !

Men.

Do not stand upon 't.

We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,
Our purpose to them and to our noble consul
Wish we all joy and honour.

:

Senators. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour ! [Flourish of cornets. Exeunt all but Sicinius and Brutus. Bru. You see how he intends to use the people. Sic. May they perceive's intent! He will

require them,

As if he did contemn what he requested

Should be in them to give.

Bru.

Of our proceedings here: on the market-place,

Come, we'll inform them

[Exeunt.

I know, they do attend us.

150

160

SCENE III.

The same.

The Forum.

Enter seven or eight Citizens.

First Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

Sec. Cit. We may, sir, if we will.

Third Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do; for if he show us his wounds and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous, and for the 10 multitude to be ingrateful, were to make a monster of the multitude; of the which we being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members.

First Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.

Third Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some abram, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured and truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south, and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o' the compass.

Sec. Cit. Think you so?

judge my wit would fly?

Which way do you

20

Third Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will; 'tis strongly wedged 30

I. Once, once for all.

21. abram, auburn.

up in a block-head, but if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, 'southward.

Sec. Cit. Why that way?

Third Cit. To lose itself in a fog, where being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife.

Sec. Cit. You are never without your tricks : you may, you may.

Third Cit. Are you all resolved to give your 40 voices? But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man.

Enter CORIOLANUS in a gown of humility,
with MENENIUS.

Here he comes, and in the gown of humility:
mark his behaviour. We are not to stay all to-
gether, but to come by him where he stands,
by ones, by twos, and by threes. He's to make
his requests by particulars; wherein every one.
of us has a single honour, in giving him our
own voices with Our own tongues : therefore
follow me, and I'll direct
you how you shall
him.

All. Content, content.

go by

[Exeunt Citizens.

Men. O sir, you are not right: have you not

known

The worthiest men have done 't?

Cor.

What must I say?

'I pray, sir,'-Plague upon 't! I cannot bring My tongue to such a pace:-'Look, sir, my

wounds!

I got them in my country's service, when

Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran

48. by particulars, to each of us individually.

50

From the noise of our own drums.'

Men.

O me, 'the gods! 60

You must not speak of that: you must desire them

To think upon you.

Cor.

Think upon me! hang 'em!

You'll mar all:

I would they would forget me, like the virtues
Which our divines lose by 'em.

Men.

I'll leave you pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you,
In wholesome manner.

Cor.

[Exit.

Bid them wash their faces

And keep their teeth clean. [Re-enter two of the Citizens.] So, here comes a brace. [Re-enter a Third Citizen.]

You know the cause, sir, of my standing here. Third Cit. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to 't.

Cor. Mine own desert.

Sec. Cit. Your own desert!

Cor. Ay, but not mine own desire.

Third Cit. How not your own desire?

Cor. No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging.

Third Cit. You must think, if we give you any thing, we hope to gain by you.

Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o' the consulship?

First Cit. The price is to ask it kindly. Cor. Kindly! Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to show you, which shall be yours in private. Your good voice, sir; what say you?

Sec. Cit. You shall ha't, worthy sir.

Cor. A match, sir. There's in all two worthy voices begged. I have your alms: adieu.

64. lose by 'em, i.e. preach to them in vain.

70

80

73. F and F print not for F1 but.

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