Better it is to die, better to starve, Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to't:- To one that would do thus.-I am half through; Enter Three other Citizens. Here come more voices, Your voices: for your voices I have fought; voices: Indeed, I would be consul. 5 Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice. 6 Cit. Therefore let him be consul: The gods give him joy, and make him good friend to the people! All. Amen, amen, God save thee, noble consul! Cor. [Exeunt Citizens. Worthy voices! Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS, and SICINIUS. Men. You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes Endue you with the people's voice: Remains, Cor. Is this done? Sic. The custom of request you have discharg'd: Cor. Where? at the senate-house? There, Coriolanus. Cor. May I then change these garments? Sic. You may, sir. Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again, Repair to the senate-house. Men. I'll keep you company.-Will Sic. you along? Fare you well. [Exeunt CORIOL. and MENEN. With a proud heart he wore He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, "Tis warm at his heart. Bru. His humble weeds: Will you dismiss the people? Re-enter Citizens. Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose this man? 1 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. He flouted us down-right. Certainly, 1 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us. 2 Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says, He us'd us scornfully: he should have show'd us His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for his country, Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure. Cit. No; no man saw 'em. [Several speak. 3 Cit. He said, he had wounds, which he could And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, To yield your voices? Bru. He was your enemy; ever spake against Sic 6 ignorant to see't?] Were you ignorant to see it, is, did you want knowledge to discern it? 7 Would think upon you] Would retain a grateful remem-brance of you, &c. As cause had call'd you up, have held him to; 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. He did solicit you Did you perceive, 8 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 asker? and, now again, On him, that did not ask, but mock, bestow Your su❜d-for tongues? 3 Cit. He's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet. 2 Cit. And will deny him: I'll have five hundred voices of that sound. 1 Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em. Bru. Get you hence instantly; and tell those friends, They have chose a consul, that will from them take Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking, Let them assemble; Sic. Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride," 8 free contempt,] That is, with contempt open and unrestrained. -9 -- objection. Enforce his pride,] Object his pride, and enforce the With what contempt he wore the humble weed; Bru. Lay A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd (No impediment between) but that you must Cast your election on him. Sic. Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided By your own true affections: and that, your minds Pre-occupy'd with what you rather must do Than what you should, made you against the grain To voice him consul: Lay the fault on us. Bru. Ay, spare us not. Say, we read lectures to you, How youngly he began to serve his country, How long continued: and what stock he springs of, Sic. 1 L his present portance,] i. e. carriage. Scaling his present bearing with his past,] That is, weighing his past and present behaviour. |