You know the cause, sir, of my standing here.[3012]
Third Cit. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you[3013]
to 't. 60
Sec. Cit. Your own desert![3014]
First Cit. How! not your own desire![3014]
Cor. No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the[3014] 65
poor with begging.[3014]
Third Cit. You must think, if we give you any thing,[3013][3014]
we hope to gain by you.[3014]
Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o' the consulship?[3014][3016]
Cor. Kindly! Sir, I pray, let me ha 't: I have wounds[3014][3018]
to show you, which shall be yours in private. Your good[3014][3019]
voice, sir; what say you?[3014]
Sec. Cit. You shall ha' it, worthy sir.[3014]
Cor. A match, sir. There's in all two worthy voices[3014] 75
begged. I have your alms: adieu.[3014]
Sec. Cit. An 'twere to give again,—but 'tis no matter.[3014]
[Exeunt the three Citizens.
Re-enter two other Citizens.[3021]
Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of
your voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary 80
gown.
Fourth Cit. You have deserved nobly of your country,[3022]
and you have not deserved nobly.
Fourth Cit. You have been a scourge to her enemies,[3022] 85
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[3024]
sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of[3025] 90
them; 'tis a condition they account gentle: and since the
wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat than my[3026]
heart, I will practise the insinuating nod and be off to[3027]
them most counterfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the
bewitchment of some popular man, and give it bountiful to[3028] 95
the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.[3029]
Fifth Cit. We hope to find you our friend; and therefore[3030]
give you our voices heartily.
Fourth Cit. You have received many wounds for your[3022]
country. 100
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! [Exeunt.[3031]
Cor. Most sweet voices! 105
Better it is to die, better to starve,[3032]
Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.[3033]
Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here,[3034][3035]
To beg of Hob and Dick that do appear,[3034][3036][3037]
Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to 't:[3034][3036][3038] 110
What custom wills, in all things should we do 't,[3034][3039]
The dust on antique time would lie unswept,[3034]
And mountainous error be too highly heap'd[3034]
For truth to o'er-peer. Rather than fool it so,[3034][3040]
Let the high office and the honour go[3034] 115
To one that would do thus. I am half through:[3034]
The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.[3034]
Re-enter three Citizens more.[3041]
Here come moe voices.[3042]
Your voices: for your voices I have fought;
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices bear 120
Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six[3043]
I have seen, and heard of; for your voices have[3044][3045]
Done many things, some less, some more: your voices:[3045]
Indeed, I would be consul.[3045][3046]
Sixth Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go without[3047] 125
any honest man's voice.
Seventh Cit. Therefore let him be consul: the gods give[3048]
him joy, and make him good friend to the people![3049]
All. Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul!
[Exeunt
Re-enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.[3050]
Men. You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes[3051][3052]
Endue you with the people's voice: remains[3051]
That in the official marks invested in you[3051]
Anon do meet the senate.[3051]
Cor. Is this done?
Sic. The custom of request you have discharged: 135
The people do admit you, and are summon'd
To meet anon upon you approbation.
Cor. Where? at the senate-house?
Sic. There, Coriolanus.
Cor. May I change these garments?
Cor. That I'll straight do, and, knowing myself again, 140
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[3054]
'Tis warm at's heart.[3055]
Bru. With a proud heart he wore[3056] 145
His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people?[3056]
Re-enter Citizens.[3057]
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,[3058] 150
He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices.
First Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech; he did not mock us.
Sec. Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says[3060]
He used us scornfully: he should have show'd us[3060] 155
His marks of merit, wounds received for's country.[3061]
Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.[3062]
Citizens. No, no; no man saw 'em.[3063]
Third Cit. He said he had wounds which he could show in private;[3064]
And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,[3065] 160
'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, 165
I have no further with you.' Was not this mockery?[3066]
Sic. Why, either were you ignorant to see't,[3067]
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, 170
But was a petty servant to the state,
He was your enemy; ever spake against[3068]
Your liberties and the charters that you bear[3069]
I' the body of the weal: and now, arriving
A place of potency and sway o' the state,[3070] 175
If he should still malignantly remain
Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might[3071]
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 180
Would think upon you for your voices and[3072][3073]
Translate his malice towards you into love,[3073]
Standing your friendly lord.
Sic. Thus to have said,
As you were fore-advised, had touch'd his spirit
And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd 185
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[3074]
Tying him to aught: so, putting him to rage,[3074] 190
You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler,
And pass'd him unelected.
Bru. Did you perceive
He did solicit you in free contempt[3075]
When he did need your loves; and do you think[3075]
That his contempt shall not be bruising to you 195
When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies[3076]
No heart among you? or had you tongues to cry
Against the rectorship of judgement?
Third Cit. He's not confirm'd; we may deny him yet.[3079]
Sec. Cit. And will deny him:[3080]
I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.[3081]
First Cit. I twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.[3082]205
Bru. Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,
They have chose a consul that will from them take[3083]
Their liberties, make them of no more voice
Than dogs that are as often beat for barking
As therefore kept to do so.[3084]
Sic. Let them assemble;[3085] 210
And, on a safer judgement, all revoke[3085][3086]
Your ignorant election: enforce his pride[3085][3086]
And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not[3086][3087]
With what contempt he wore the humble weed,
How in his suit he scorn'd you: but your loves, 215
Thinking upon his services, took from you
The apprehension of his present portance,
Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion[3088]
After the inveterate hate he bears you.[3089]
Sic. Say, you chose him[3090]
More after our commandment than as guided[3090][3092]
By your own true affections; and that your minds,[3090][3092]
Pre-occupied with what you rather must do[3090] 225
Than what you should, made you against the grain[3090][3092][3093]
To voice him consul: lay the fault on us.[3090]
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, 230
The noble house o' the Marcians, from whence came[3094]
That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,
Who, after great Hostilius, here was king;
Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,
That our best water brought by conduits hither;[3095] 235
And [Censorinus] nobly named so,[3095]
Twice being [by the people chosen] censor,[3095]
Was his great ancestor.[3095]
Sic. One thus descended,
That hath beside well in his person wrought[3096]
To be set high in place, we did commend 240
To your remembrances: but you have found,
Scaling his present bearing with his past,[3097]
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
Your sudden approbation.
Bru. Say, you ne'er had done't—[3098]
Harp on that still—but by our putting on: 245
And presently, when you have drawn your number,
Repair to the Capitol.
Citizens. We will so: almost all[3099][3100]
Repent in their election. [Exeunt Citizens.[3099]
Bru. Let them go on;[3101]
This mutiny were better put in hazard,
Than stay, past doubt, for greater: 250
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:[3102]
We will be there before the stream o' the people;
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own, 255
Which we have goaded onward. [Exeunt.