Bru. Mark you that?

Cor. To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus,
Shew them th' unaking scars, which I would hide,
As if I had receiv'd them for the hire
Of their breath only

Men. Do not stand upon't:
We recommend t'ye, Tribunes of the people,
Our purpose, * land to them: to our noble Consul
With we all joy and honour.
Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour !

(Flourish Cornets. Then Exeant. Manent 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. Come, we'll inform them
Of our proceedings here : on th' market-place
I know they do attend us,

[Exeunt.

Enter seven or eight Citizens. 1 Cil. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought

not to deny . 2 Cit. We may, Sir, if we will.

3 Cit. We have power in our selves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do; for if he shew us his wounds, and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds, and speak for them : so, if he tells us his noble deeds, we must also tell him of our

noble (a) Once bere means the same as when we say once for all.

Warburtoz. 8 to them, and to

9 multitude

noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful, were to make a monfter of the multitude ; of the which we being members, should bring our selves to be monstrous members.

i Cil. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve : for once when we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed 9 monster.

3 Cit. We have been call'd so of many, not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, fome bald; but that our wits are so diversely colour'd; and truly, I think, if all our wits were to issue out of our sculls,' they would fly East, West, North, South, and their consent of one direct way would be at once to all points o’th compass.

2 Cit. Think you so ? which way do you judge my wit would fly?

3 Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will, 'tis strongly wedg’d up in a blockhead : but if it were at liberty, 'cwould sure Southward.

2 Cit. Why that way?

3 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.

2 Cit. You are never without your tricks you may, you may

3 Cil. Are you all resolved to give your 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, with Menenius. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility; mark his behaviour : we are not to stay all together, but to come by him where he stands, by one's, by two's, and by three's. He's to make his requests by particulars, wherein every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own

voices 9 multitude.

i one fcull,

I pray, Sir,

voices with our own tongues : therefore follow me, and l'il direct you how you shall go by him.

All. Content, content.

Men. Oh Sir, you are not right; have you not known The worthiest men have done't? Cor. What must I say?

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
From noise of our own drums.

Men. Oh me, the Gods!
You must not speak of that, you must desire them
To think upon you.

Cor. Think upon me? hang 'em.
I would they would forget me, like the 2 /advices
Which our Divines lose i'onem.

Men. You'll mar all.
I'll leave you : pray you speak to 'em, I pray you,
In wholsome manner.

[Exit.
Two Citizens approach.
Cor. Bid them wash their faces,
And keep their teeth clean - fo, here comes a brace:
You know the cause, Sirs, of my standing here.

1 Cit. We do, Sir; tell us what hath brought you to't. Cor. Mine own desert. 2 Cit. Your own desert ? Cor. Ay, not mine own desire ? i Cit. How, not your own desire ?

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

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

Cor. Well then ; I pray, your price o'th' Consulship? i Cit. The price is, to ask it kindly. Cor. Kindly, Sir, I pray let me ha't: I have wounds

to 2 virtues

3 by

to thew

you,

which shall be yours in private : your good voice, Sír; what say you?

2 Cit. You shall ha’t, worthy Sir.

Cor. A match, Sir; there's in all two worthy voices begg'd: I have your alms, adieu.

i Cit. But this is something odd. 2 Cit. An 'were to give again : - but ’tis no matter.

[Exeunt. Two other Citizens. Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices, that I may be Conful, I have here the customary gown.

i Cit. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserv'd nobly.

Cor. Your ænigma?

1 Cit. You have been a fcourge to her enemies ; you have been a rod to her friends ; you have not indeed loved the common people.

Cor. You should account me the more virtuous, that I have not been common in my love; 4/but I will,' Sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them, s'for 'is'a condition they account gentle : and since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my cap than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod, and be off to them most counterfeitly ; that is, Sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man, and give it bountifully to the desirers : therefore, 'beseech

you I may be Conful.

2 Cit. We hope to find you our friend ; and therefore give you our voices heartily.

i Cit. You have received many wounds for your country.

Cor. I will not feal your knowledge with shewing them I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further. Both. The Gods give you joy, Sir, hcartily! [Exeunt.

Cor. 4 I will,

3 'tis

Cor. Most sweet voices
Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire, which first we do deferve, a

Three Citizens more.
Here come more voices.
Your voices for your voices I have fought,
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices, bear
Of wounds two dozen and odd : battles thrice six
I've seen, and heard of: for your voices, have
Done many things, some less, some more :- your voices :
Indeed I would be Consul.

i Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice.

2 Cit. Therefore let him be Consul: The Gods give him joy, and make him a good friend to the people! All. Amen, amen. God save thee, noble Consul!

[Exeunt. Cor. Worthy voices!

Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius. Men. You've stood your limitation: and the Tribunes Endue you with the people's voice. Remains, That in th' official marks invested, you Anon do meet the Senate.

Cor. Is this done?

Sic. The custom of request you have discharg’d : The people do admit you, and are summon'd

То

(a) —we do deserve,
Why in this woolvilh gown should I stand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,
Their needless voucher? cuitom calls me to't -
What custom wills in all things, should we do't!
The dust to antique time would lye unswept,
And mountainous error be too highly heapt,
For truth to o'er-peer. Rather than fcol it so,
Let the high office and the honour go,
To one that would do thus. I am half through,
The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.

Three citizens, &c.