! A Sennet. Enter, with Lictors before them, COMI-When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought NIUS the Consul, MENENIUS, CORIOLANUS, many other Beyond the mark of others: our then dictator, Senators, SICINIUS, and BRUTUS. The Senators take Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight, their places; the Tribunes take theirs also by When with his Amazonian chin he drove themselves. Men. Having determin'd of the Volces, and Hath thus stood for his country: therefore, please you, Most reverend and grave elders, to desire We meet here, both to thank, and to remember 1 Sen. Speak, good Cominius: Leave nothing out for length, and make us think, The bristled lips before him: he bestrid I cannot speak him home. He stopp'd the fliers; But tie him not to be their bedfellow. - Cor. Your honours' pardon; I had rather have my wounds to heal again, Than hear say how I got them. My words dis-bench'd you not. Cor. No, sir: yet oft, When blows have made me stay, I fled from words. I love them as they weigh. Men. Pray now, sit down. Cor. I had rather have one scratch my head i'the sun, 1 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, Then misery itself would give; rewards His deeds with doing them; and is content To spend the time, to end it. Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, Men. He's right noble; Let him be call'd for. 1 Sen. Call for Coriolanus. Off. He doth appear. Re-enter CORIOLANUS. Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd To make thee consul. Cor. I do owe them still My life, and services. Let me o'erleap that custom; for I cannot you, That I may pass this doing. Must have their voices; neither will they bate Com. I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus and to the custom; Take to you, as your predecessors have, Your honour with your form. Cor. It is a part That I shall blush in acting, and might well Be taken from the people. Bru. Mark you that? Cor. To brag unto them, Thus I did, and thus; - Show them the unaking scars, which I should hide, Cor. What must I say? 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, I pray, sir, plague upon't! I cannot bring wounds; look, sir; I got them in my country's service, when Men. O me, the gods! And keep their teeth clean. - So, here comes a brace. 1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought 1 Cit. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought not to deny him. 2 Cit. We may, sir, if we will. 8 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. 1 Cit. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve: for once, when we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call use the many-headed multitude. 8 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. 2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge, my wit would fly? 3 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. 2 Cit. You are never without your tricks: you may, you may. 3 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. you to't. Cor. Mine own desert. 2 Cit. Your own desert? 1 Cit. How! not your own desire? 'Twas never my desire yet, 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'the consulship? Sir, I pray let me ha't: I have wounds to show you, 2 Cit. An 'twere to give again, but 'tis no matter. [Exeunt two Citizens. 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 acEnter CORIOLANUS and MENenius. count gentle and since the wisdom of their choice Here he comes, and in the gown of humility; mark is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will his behaviour. We are not to stay all together, but practise the insinuating nod, and be off to them most to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, counterfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the beand by threes. He's to make his requests by parti- witchment of some popular man, and give it bounticulars: wherein every one of us has a single honour, fully to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I in giving him our own voices with our own ton- may be consul. gues therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how 4 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; and thereyou shall go by him. fore give you our voices heartily. [Exeunt. 3 Cit. You have received many wounds for your Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with showing Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. 3 Cit. He said, he had wounds, which he could And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn, 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! [Exeunt Citizens. you, - thank Your most sweet voices: -now you have left your voices, I have no further with you: 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? ;-- was not this mockery? Sic. The custom of request you have discharg'd: Sic. There, Coriolanus. Cor. May I then change these garments? Sic. You may, sir. bear Bru. Could you not have told him, As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit, Tying him to aught; so, putting him to rage, Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself Sic. Have you, again, Repair to the senate-house. Men. I'll keep you company. Will you along? [Exeunt Coriolanus and Menenius. Bru. With a proud heart he wore His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people? 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. He flouted us downright. 1 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us. Ere now, deny'd the asker? and, now again, 3 Cit. He's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet. I'll have five hundred voices of that sound. And, on a safer judgment, all revoke 2 Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says, (No impediment between) but that Cast your election on him. Sic. Say, you chose him you must More after our commandment, than as guided Sic. One thus descended, That hath beside well in his person wrought Bur. Say, you ne'er had done't, (Harp on that still,) but by our putting on: And presently, when you have drawn your number, Repair to the Capitol. [Several speak. Cit. We will so: almost all Repent in their election. [Exeunt Citizens. Bru. Let them go on; Cor. Soen the Volces stand but as at first; Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make road Upon us again. Com. They are worn, lord consul, so, That we shall hardly in our ages see Their banners wave again. Cor. Saw you Aufidius? To oppose his hatred full.-Welcome home! Cor. Ha! What is that? Cor. What makes this change? Com. Hath he not pass'd the nobles, and the commons? Cor. Have I had children's voices? 1 Sen. Tribunes, give way; he shall to the mar- Bru. The people are incens'd against him. Or all will fall in broil. Cor. Are these your herd? Must these have voices, that can yield them now, And straight disclaim their tongues? What are your offices? You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth? Have you not set them on? Men. Be calm, be calm! Cor. It is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot, Bru. Call't not a plot: The people cry, you mock'd them; and, of late, Cor. Have you inform'd them since? Cor. You are like to do such business. Each way, to better yours. Cor. Why then should I be consul? By yon clouds, Sic. You show too much of that, Men. Let's be calm. Com. The people are abus'd: Becomes not Rome: nor has Coriolanus Lart. On safeguard he came to me; and did curse I'the plain way of his merit. Against the Volces, for they had so vilely Yielded the town: he is retir'd to Antium. Lart. He did, my lord. Cor. Tell me of corn! This was my speech, and I will speak't again;· 1 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 Therein behold themselves: I say again, scatter'd, By mingling them with us, the honour'd number; 1 Sen. No more words, we beseech you. As for my country I have shed my blood, Bru. You speak o'the people, As if you were a god to punish, not Sic. "Twere well, We let the people know't. Men. What, what? his choler? Cor. Shall! thus Men. Come, enough! Bru. Enough, with over-measure. What may be sworn by, both divine and human,' O good, but most unwise patricians, why, Com. Well-on to the market-place. Cor. Whoever gave that counsel, to give forth The corn o'the store-house gratis, as 'twas us'd Sometime in Greece, Men. Well, well, no more of that. Sic. He has spoken like a traitor, and shall answer Cor. Thou wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee!- Sic. This a consul? no. Bru. The Aediles, ho!-Let him be apprehended! Sic. Go, call the people; [Exit Brutus.] in whose name, myself Attach thee, as a traitorous innovator, A foe to the public weal. Obey, I charge thee, Cor. Hence, old goat! Sen. et Put. We'll surety him. Com. Aged sir, hands off! Cor. (Though there the people had more absolute Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy bones power,) I say, they nourish'd disobedience, fed The ruin of the state. Bru. Why, shall the people give One, that speaks thus, their voice? Cor. I'll give my reasons, More worthier,than their voices. They know, the corn Out of thy garments! Sic. Help, ye, citizens! Re-enter BRUTUS, with the Aediles, and a rabble of Citizens. Spe Ci Si Mar Wh M Thi 1 C The Th Ca M C Το In S B In B T |