3 Cit. 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, witb 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 with our own tongues : therefore follow me, and I'll di. rect 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 don'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
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 advices
Which our Divines lose on 'em.

Men. You'll mar all.
r'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 so, here comes a brace : You know the cause, Sirs, of my standing here.

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

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

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1 Cir

shew you,

1 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’ Consullhip? i Cit. The price is, to ask it kindly. Cor. Kindly, Sir, I pray let me ha't : I have wounds to

which shall be yours in private : your good voice, Sir ; 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.

1 Cit. But this is something odd. 2 Cit. An 'twere to give again : but 'tis no matter.

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

i Cit. You have deserved nobly cf your country, and you have not deseryed nobly:

Cor. Your ænigma ?

I Cit. You have been a scourge 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 ; but I will, Sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them, for 'tis a condition they account gentle : and fince 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 Consul,

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

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

Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with thewing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.

Botb. The Gods give you joy, Şir, heartily! [Exeunt.
Cor, Moft sweet voices

Better

Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the bire, which first we do deserve. *

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 fix
P'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 honeft man's voice.

2 Cie. 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 a
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
To meet anon upon your approbation.

Cor. Where? at the senate-house ?
Sic. There, Coriolanus.
Cor. May I then change these garments ?
Sic. Sir, you may
Cor. That I'll straight do : and knowing my self again,

... we do deserve.
Why in this woolvish gown should I stand here,
To beg of Hob and Dik, that do appear,
Their needlefs voucher? cuíton calls me to't ...
What custom vills in all things, should we do't ?
The duft on antique time would lye unswept,
And mountainous error be too highly heapt,
For truth to o'er-peer. Rather ihan fool it so,
Let the high office and the honour go,
To one that would do thus. I am half through,
The one part luffer'd, the other will I do,
Three citizens, &c.

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Repair

Repair to th' senate-house.

Men. I'll keep you company. Will you along?
Bru. We stay here for the people.
Sic. Fare you well. [Exeunt Coriol. and Men.

SCENE VIII.
He has it now, and by his looks, methinks
'Tis warm at's heart.

Bru. With a proud heart he wore
His humble weeds : will you dismiss the people ?

Enter Citizens,
Sic. How now, my masters, have you chose this man?
I Cit. He has our voices, Sir.
Bru. We pray the Gods he may deserve your loves.

2 Cit. Amen, Sir : to my poor unworthy notice, He mock'd us, when he begg’d our voices.

3 Cit. Certainly he fouted us down-right.
i Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us.

2 Cit. Not one amongst us, save your self, but says
He us'd us scornfully : he should have shew'd us
His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for's country.

Sic. Why so he did, I am sure.
All, No, no man saw 'em.

3 Cit. He said he'd wounds, which he could shew in private :
And with his cap, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be Consul, says he : aged custom,
But by your voices, will not so permit me ;
Your voices tberefore : when we granted that,
Here was -- I thank you for your voices
Your most sweet voices now you bave left your voices,
I bave notbing furtber wirb you.

Wa’n't this mockery ?
Sic. Why either were you impotent to see't,
Or seeing it, of such childish friendliness,
To yield your voices ?

Bru. Could you not have told him,
As you were lesson'd ? when he had no power,
But was a petty servant to the state,
He was your enemy, still spake against
Your liberties, and charters that you bear
I'th'body of the weal : and now arriving
At place of potency, and sway o'th' state,

- thank you

If he should still malignantly remain
Faft foe to the Plebeians, your voices might
Be curses to your selves. You should have said,
That as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he stood for ; so his gracious nature
Would think upon you for your voices, and
Tranllate his malice tow'rds you into love,
Standing your friendly Lord.

Sic. Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advis’d, had touch'd his spirit,
And try'd his inclination ; from him pluckt
Either his gracious promise, which you might,
As cause had call'd you up, have held him to;
Or else it would have gall’d his surly nature ;
Which easily endures not article,
Tying him to ought ; so putting him to rage,
You should have ta’en th’advantage of his choler,
And pass’d him unelected.

Bru. Did you perceive,
He did sollicit you in free contempt,
When he did need your loves ; and do you think
That his contempt shall not be bruising to you,
When he hath power to crush? why had your bodies
No heart among you ? or had you tongues, to cry
Against the rectorship of judgment

Sic. Have you
Ere now deny'd the afker ; and now again,
On him that did not ask, but mock, bestow'd
Your su'd-for tongues ?

3 Cit. He's not confirm’d, we may Deny him yet.

2 Cit. Ay and we will deny him : I'll have five hundred voices of that found.

1 Cit. Ay, twice five hundred, and theirfriends to piece'emi,

Bru. Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,
They've chose a Consul that will from them take
Their liberties, make them of no more voice
Than dogs that are as often beat for barking,
As therefore kept to do so.
Sic. Let them afsemble ; and one fafer judgment,

Revoke

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