"Twere a perpetual spoil; and till we call'd
Both field and city ours, he never stood
To ease his breast with panting.
Men.

Worthy man! First Sen. He cannot but with measure fit the honours

Which we devise him.

Com. Our spoils he kick'd at, And look'd upon things precious as they were The common muck o' 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. Men.

Let him be call'd for.

131

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.

14

First Sen.

Call Coriolanus.

Off. He doth appear.

Re-enter CORIOLANUS.

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

It is a part

That I shall blush in acting, and might well
Be taken from the people.
Bru.
Mark you that? 150
Cor. To brag unto them, thus I did, and thus;
Show them the unaching scars which I should
hide,

As if I had receiv'd 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.

Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! Flourish. 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.

160

Bru. Come; we'll inform them Of our proceedings here: on the market-place I know they do attend us.

Exeunt.

would fly east, west, north, south; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o' the compass.

Second 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.

Second Cit. Why that way?

33

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.

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

Third 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 of humility, and MENENIUS.

43

SCENE III.-The Same. The Forum.

Enter several Citizens.

them To think upon you. Cor.

61

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

we ought not to deny him.

Think upon me!

Hang 'em!

In wholesome manner.

Exit.

Cor. Bid them wash their faces, And keep their teeth clean.

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

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

First Cit. But this is something odd. Second Cit. An 'twere to give again,-but 'tis no matter. Exeunt the two Citizens. 90

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.

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

Cor. Your enigma?

Third 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. Fourth Cit. We hope to find you our friend, and therefore give you our voices heartily.

112

Third 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 further.

Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

Exeunt.

And mountainous error be too highly heap'd For truth to o'erpeer. Rather than fool it so, Let the high office and the honour go

131

To one that would do thus. I am half through;
The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.
Re-enter three other Citizens,

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 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.

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

140

Sixth 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
That, in the official marks invested, you
Anon do meet the senate.

Cor.
Is this done?
Sic. The custom of request you have dis-
charg'd:

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

150

There, Coriolanus. Cor. May I 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 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, 160
'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.

Second 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.

Second Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself,

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

All.

No, no; no man saw 'em. Third Cit. He said he had wounds, which he could show in private;

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 180

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?

190

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, 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.

Sic. Thus to have said, As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd 200 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.

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-occupied with what you rather must do 20
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, The noble house o' the Marcians, from whence

Repent in their election. Bru.

We will so almost all Exeunt Citizens. Let them go on;

This mutiny were better put in hazard
Than stay, past doubt, for greater.
If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
With their refusal, both observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.
Sic.
To the Capitol:
Come, we'll be there before the stream o' the
people;

And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
Which we have goaded onward.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-Rome. A Street.

Excunt.

Cornets. Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, CoMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, Senators and Patricians.

Cor. Tullus Aufidius then had made new head! Lart. He had, my lord; and that it was which caus'd

Our swifter composition.

Cor. So then the Volsces stand but as at first, Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road Upon's again,

40

Bru.
Call 't not a plot:
The people cry you mock'd them, and of late,
When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd;
Scandal'd the suppliants for the people, call'd
them

Time-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.
Cor. Why, this was known before.
Bru.
Not to them all.
Cor. Have you inform'd them sithence?
Bru.
How! I inform them!
Com. You are like to do such business.
Bru.

Each way, to better yours.

Not unlike,

Cor. Why then should I be consul? By yond clouds,

Com. The people are abus'd; set on. This paltering

Becomes not Rome, nor has Coriolanus
Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely
I' the plain way of his merit.
Cor.

Tell me of corn! 60
This was my speech, and I will speak 't again-
Men. Not now, not now.
First Sen.

Not in this heat, sir, now. Cor. Now, as I live, I will. My nobler friends, I crave their pardons :

For the mutable, rank-scented many, let them
Regard me as I do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves: I say again,
In soothing them we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd
and scatter'd,

70

By mingling them with us, the honour'd number;
Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but that
Which they have given to beggars.

Men.
Well, no more.
First Sen. No more words, we beseech you.
Cor.
How! no more!

As for my country I have shed my blood,
Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungs
Coin words till their decay against those measles,
Which we disdain should tetter us, yet sought
The very way to catch them.
Bru.
You speak o' the people
As if you were a god to punish, not
A man of their infirmity.
Sic.

80

'Twere well What, what? his choler?

We let the people know 't.

Men.

Cor. Choler!

90

O good but most unwise patricians! why,
You grave but reckless senators, have you thus
Given Hydra here to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory 'shall,' being but
The horn and noise o' the monster's, wants not
spirit

To say he'll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then vail your ignorance; if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Let them have cushions by you.

plebeians

You are

If they be senators; and they are no less,

100