Of our proceedings here: on the market-place,
I know, they do attend us.

SCENE III

The same. The Forum.

Enter seven or eight Citizens.

[Exeunt.

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 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 auburn, 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? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?

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

But

Sec. Cit. You are never without your tricks: you may, you may. Third Cit. Are you all resolved to give your voices? 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 together, 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 shall go by him.

how you

All. Content, content.

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

The worthiest men have done 't?

Cor.

[Exeunt Citizens.

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 the noise of our own drums.'

Men.
O 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 virtues Which our divines lose by 'em.

Men.

You'll mar all:

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

Cor.

Bid them wash their faces,

[Exit. 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 !

[begging.

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

Third Cit. But this is something odd.

Sec. Cit. An 'twere to give again, but 'tis no matter.

[Exeunt the three Citizens.

Re-enter 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.

Fourth Cit. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not desired nobly.

Cor. Your enigma?

Fourth 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. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle : and since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat 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 bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.

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

Fourth Cit. You have received many wounds for your country. Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no farther. Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

Cor. Most sweet voices !

Better it is to die, better to starve,

Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.
Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here;
To beg of Hob and Dick that do appear,
Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to 't:
What custom wills, in all things should we do 't,
The dust on antique time would lie unswept,
And mountainous error be too highly heap'd
For truth to o'er-peer. Rather than fool 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.
Re-enter three Citizens more.

Here come moe voices.

[Exeunt.

Your voices for your voices I have fought;
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices bear
Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six
I have seen, and heard of; for your voices have
Done many things, some less, some more: your voices :

Indeed, I would be consul.

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

Seventh Cit. Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy, and make him good friend to the people! God save thee, noble consul!

All. Amen, amen.

Cor. Worthy voices!

Re-enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.

[Exeunt.

Men. You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes
Endue you with the people's voice: remains

That in the official marks invested you

Anon do meet the senate.

Cor.

Is this done?

Sic. The custom of request you have discharged:
The people do admit you, and are summon'd
To meet anon upon your approbation.
Cor. Where? at the senate-house?

Sic.

There, Coriolanus.

You may, sir.

Cor. May I change these garments?
Sic.

Cor. That I'll straight do, and, knowing myself again,
Repair to the senate-house,

Men. I'll keep you company. Will you along?

Bru. We stay here for the people.

Sic.

Fare you well.

[Exeunt Coriolanus and Menenius.

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 ?

Re-enter Citizens.

Sic. How now, my masters! have you chose this man?
First Cit. He has our voices, sir.

Bru. We pray the gods he may deserve your loves.
Sec. Cit. Amen, sir: to my poor unworthy notice,
He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices.
Third Cit.

He flouted us downright.

Certainly

First Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech; he did not mock us. Sec. Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says

He used us scornfully: he should have show'd us His marks of merit, wounds received for 's country. Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.

Citizens. No, no; no man saw 'em.

[private ;

Third Cit. He said he had wounds which he could show in

And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,

'I would be consul,' says he: 'aged custom,
But by your voices, will not so permit me;
Your voices, therefore.' When we granted that,
Here was 'I thank you for your voices: thank you :
Your most sweet voices: now you have left your voices,
I have no further with you.' Was not this mockery?
Sic. Why, either were you ignorant to see 't,

Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
To yield your voices?

Bru.

Sic.

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; ever spake against
Your liberties and the charters that you bear
I' the body of the weal: and now, arriving
A place of potency and sway o' the state,
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might
Be curses to yourselves? 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
Translate his malice towards you into love,
Standing your friendly lord.

Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advised, had touch'd his spirit
And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd
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 aught: so, putting him to rage,
You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.

Bru.

Sic.

Did you perceive

He did solicit 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 judgement?

Have you,

Ere now, denied the asker? and now again,
Of him that did not ask but mock, bestow