him our own voices with our own tongues: therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall him.

All. Content, content.

go by

[Exeunt.

Men. O sir, you are not right: have you not known The worthiest men have done it?

Look, sir;

--my

I pray, sir,-Plague upon't! I cannot bring
My tongue to such a pace:

wounds;

I got them in my country's service, when
Some certain of your brethren roar'd, and ran
From th' 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 them.'

You'll mar all;

Men. I'll leave you: Pray you, speak to them, I pray you, In wholesome manner.

Cor.

[Exit.

Enter two Citizens.

Bid them wash their faces,

And keep their teeth clean.-So, here comes a brace, You know the cause, sir, of my standing here.

1 Cit. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you Cor. Mine own desert.

[to't.

Ay, not

How! not your own desire?

"Twas never my desire yet,

To trouble the poor with begging.

Throw away upon them, in recommending what their hearers

do not practise.

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' consulship? 1 Cit. The price is, sir, 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, What say you?

2 Cit.

You shall have it, worthy sir.

Cor. A match, sir:

There is in all two worthy voices begg'd:

I have your alms; adieu.

1 Cit.

[sir;

But this is something odd.

[Exeunt two Citizens.

2 Cit. An 'twere to give again,—But 'tis no matter.

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.

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

Cor. Your enigma?

3 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 bountifully to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.

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

3 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!

Cor. Most sweet voices!

Better it is to die, better to starve,

[Exeunt.

Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.
Why in this woolvish gown should I stand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick,3 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 over-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.

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.

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!

■ I will not strengthen or complete your knowledge. The seal is that which gives authenticity to a writing.

This rough hirsute gown.

3 Our poet here has strangely given the names of Englishmen to Romans.

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 triEndue you with the people's voice: Remains, [bunes 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.

You may, sir.

Cor. May I then change these garments? Sic. Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself Repair to th' senate-house. [again, Men. I'll keep you company.-Will you along? Bru. We stay here for the people.

Sic.

Fare you well!

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and MENen.

He has it now; and by his looks, methinks,
Tis warm at his 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 1 Cit. He has our voices, sir. [man; 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, [us.

1 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock 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, whieh 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,
I have no further with you:-Was not this mockery?
Sic. Why, either, were you ignorant2 to see't?
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness

To yield your voices?

bear

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
I' th' body of the weal: and now, arriving
A place of potency, and sway o' th' 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 try'd his inclination; from him pluck'd,
Either his gracious promise, which you might,

'See page 41, note 3.

• Did you want knowledge to discern it?

>