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• Coriolanus: Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: Rome. a Street.
• Scene II.—: Corioli. the Senate-house.
• Scene III.—: Rome. a Room Inmarcius’shouse.
• Scene IV.—: Before Corioli.
• Scene V.—: Corioli. a Street.
• Scene VI.—: Near the Camp Ofcominius.
• Scene VII.—: The Gates of Corioli.
• Scene VIII.—: A Field of Battle Between the Roman and the Volscian Camps.
• Scene IX.—: The Roman Camp.
• Scene X.—: The Camp of the Volsces.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: Rome. a Public Place.
• Scene II.—: The Same. the Capitol.
• Scene III.—: The Same. the Forum.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: Rome. a Street.
• Scene II.—: The Same. a Room Incoriolanus’shouse.
• Scene III.—: The Same. the Forum.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: Rome. Before a Gate of the City.
• Scene II.—: The Same. a Street Near the Gate.
• Scene III.—: A Highway Between Rome and Antium.
• Scene IV.—: Antium. Beforeaufidius’ House.
• Scene V.—: The Same. a Hall Inaufidius’ House.
• Scene VI.—: Rome. a Public Place.
• Scene VII.—: A Camp At a Small Distance From Rome.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: Rome. a Public Place.
• Scene II.—: The Volscian Camp Before Rome. the Guards At Their Stations.
• Scene III.—: The Tent Ofcoriolanus.
• Scene IV.—: Rome. a Public Place.
• Scene V.—: Corioli. a Public Place.

ACT II.

Scene I.—

Rome. A Public Place.

EnterMenenius, Sicinius,andBrutus.

Men.

The augurer tells me we shall have news to-night.

Bru.

Good or bad?

Men.

Not according to the prayer of the people, for they love not Marcius.

Sic.

Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.

Men.

Pray you, who does the wolf love?

Sic.

The lamb.

Men.

Ay, to devour him; as the hungry plebeians would the noble Marcius.

Bru.

He’s a lamb indeed, that baes like a bear.

Men.

He’s a bear indeed, that lives like a lamb. You two are old men; tell me one thing that I shall ask you.

Sic.

Well, sir.

Bru.

Well, sir.

Men.

In what enormity is Marcius poor in, that you two have not in abundance?

Bru.

He’s poor in no one fault, but stored with all.

Sic.

Especially in pride.

Bru.

And topping all others in boasting.

Men.

This is strange now: do you two know how you are censured here in the city, I mean of us o’ the right hand file? Do you?

Both.

Why, how are we censured?

Men.

Because you talk of pride now,—Will you not be angry?

Both.

Well, well, sir; well.

Men.

Why, ’tis no great matter; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience: give your dispositions the reins, and be angry at your pleasures; at the least, if you take it as a pleasure to you in being so. You blame Marcius for being proud?

Bru.

We do it not alone, sir.

Men.

I know you can do very little alone; for your helps are many, or else your actions would grow wondrous single: your abilities are too infant-like, for doing much alone. You talk of pride: O! that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves. O! that you could.

Bru.

What then, sir?

Men.

Why, then you should discover a brace of unmeriting, proud, violent, testy magistrates—alias fools—as any in Rome.

Sic.

Menenius, you are known well enough too.

Men.

I am known to be a humorous patrician, and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in’t; said to be something imperfect in favouring the first complaint; hasty and tinder-like upon too trivial motion; one that converses more with the buttock of the night than with the forehead of the morning. What I think I utter, and spend my malice in my breath. Meeting two such wealsmen as you are,—I cannot call you Lycurguses,—if the drink you give me touch my palate adversely, I make a crooked face at it. I cannot say your worships have delivered the matter well when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables; and though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men, yet they lie deadly that tell you have good faces. If you see this in the map of my microcosm, follows it that I am known well enough too? What harm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this character, if I be known well enough too?

Bru.

Come, sir, come, we know you well enough.

Men.

You know neither me, yourselves, nor anything. You are ambitious for poor knaves’ caps and legs: you wear out a good wholesome forenoon in hearing a cause between an orange-wife and a fosset-seller, and then rejourn the controversy of three-pence to a second day of audience. When you are hearing a matter between party and party, if you chance to be pinched with the colic, you make faces like mummers, set up the bloody flag against all patience, and, in roaring for a chamber-pot, dismiss the controversy bleeding, the more entangled by your hearing: all the peace you make in their cause is, calling both the parties knaves. You are a pair of strange ones.

Bru.

Come, come, you are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table than a necessary bencher in the Capitol.

Men.

Our very priests must become mockers if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are. When you speak best unto the purpose it is not worth the wagging of your beards; and your beards deserve not so honourable a grave as to stuff a botcher’s cushion, or to be entombed in an ass’s pack-saddle. Yet you must be saying Marcius is proud; who, in a cheap estimation, is worth all your predecessors since Deucalion, though peradventure some of the best of ’em were hereditary hangmen. Good den to your worships: more of your conversation would infect my brain, being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians: I will be bold to take my leave of you.

[BrutusandSiciniusgo aside.

EnterVolumnia, Virgilia,andValeria.

How now, my as fair as noble ladies,—and the moon, were she earthly, no nobler,—whither do you follow your eyes so fast?

Vol.

Honourable Menenius, my boy Marcius approaches; for the love of Juno, let’s go.

Men.

Ha! Marcius coming home?

Vol.

Ay, worthy Menenius; and with most prosperous approbation.

Men.

Take my cap, Jupiter, and I thank thee. Hoo! Marcius coming home!

Vol.

Nay, ’tis true.

Vir.

Nay, ’tis true.

Vol.

Look, here’s a letter from him: the state hath another, his wife another; and, I think, there’s one at home for you.

Men.

I will make my very house reel to-night. A letter for me!

Vir.

Yes, certain, there’s a letter for you; I saw it.

Men.

A letter for me! It gives me an estate of seven years’ health; in which time I will make a lip at the physician: the most sovereign prescription in Galen is but empiricutic, and, to this preservative, of no better report than a horse-drench. Is he not wounded? he was wont to come home wounded.

Vir.

O! no, no, no.

Vol.

O! he is wounded, I thank the gods for’t.

Men.

So do I too, if it be not too much. Brings a’ victory in his pocket? The wounds become him.

Vol.

On ’s brows, Menenius; he comes the third time home with the oaken garland.

Men.

Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly?

Vol.

Titus Lartius writes they fought together, but Aufidius got off.

Men.

And ’twas time for him too, I’ll warrant him that: an he had stayed by him I would not have been so fidiused for all the chests in Corioli, and the gold that’s in them. Is the senate possessed of this?

Vol.

Good ladies, let’s go. Yes, yes, yes; the senate has letters from the general, wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war. He hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly.

Val.

In troth there’s wondrous things spoke of him.

Men.

Wondrous! ay, I warrant you, and not without his true purchasing.

Vir.

The gods grant them true!

Vol.

True! pow, wow.

Men.

True! I’ll be sworn they are true. Where is he wounded? [To the Tribunes.] God save your good worships! Marcius is coming home: he has more cause to be proud. [ToVolumnia.] Where is he wounded?

Vol.

I’ the shoulder, and i’ the left arm: there will be large cicatrices to show the people when he shall stand for his place. He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts i’ the body.

Men.

One i’ the neck, and two i’ the thigh, there’s nine that I know.

Vol.

He had, before this last expedition, twenty-five wounds upon him.

Men.

Now, it’s twenty-seven: every gash was an enemy’s grave. [A shout and flourish.] Hark! the trumpets.

Vol.

These are the ushers of Marcius: before him he carries noise, and behind him he leaves tears:

Death, that dark spirit, in ’s nervy arm doth lie;

Which, being advanc’d, declines, and then men die.

A Sennet. Trumpets sound. EnterCominiusandTitus Lartius;between them,Coriolanus,crowned with an oaken garland; with Captains, Soldiers, and a Herald.

Her.

Know, Rome, that all alone Marcius did fight

Within Corioli gates: where he hath won,

With fame, a name to Caius Marcius; these

In honour follows Coriolanus.

Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!

[Flourish.

All.

Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!

Cor.

No more of this; it does offend my heart:

Pray now, no more.

Com.

Look, sir, your mother!

Cor.

O!

You have, I know, petition’d all the gods

For my prosperity.

[Kneels.

Vol.

Nay, my good soldier, up;

My gentle Marcius, worthy Caius, and

By deed-achieving honour newly nam’d,—

What is it?—Coriolanus must I call thee?

But O! thy wife!—

Cor.

My gracious silence, hail!

Wouldst thou have laugh’d had I come coffin’d home,

That weep’st to see me triumph? Ah! my dear,

Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear,

And mothers that lack sons.

Men.

Now, the gods crown thee!

Cor.

And live you yet? [ToValeria.] O my sweet lady, pardon.

Vol.

I know not where to turn: O! welcome home;

And welcome, general; and ye’re welcome all.

Men.

A hundred thousand welcomes: I could weep,

And I could laugh; I am light, and heavy. Welcome.

A curse begnaw at very root on ’s heart

That is not glad to see thee! You are three

That Rome should dote on; yet, by the faith of men,

We have some old crab-trees here at home that will not

Be grafted to your relish. Yet, welcome, warriors!

We call a nettle but a nettle, and

The faults of fools but folly.

Com.

Ever right.

Cor.

Menenius, ever, ever.

Her.

Give way there, and go on!

Cor.

[ToVolumniaandValeria.] Your hand, and yours:

Ere in our own house I do shade my head,

The good patricians must be visited;

From whom I have receiv’d not only greetings,

But with them change of honours.

Vol.

I have liv’d

To see inherited my very wishes,

And the buildings of my fancy: only

There’s one thing wanting, which I doubt not but

Our Rome will cast upon thee.

Cor.

Know, good mother,

I had rather be their servant in my way

Than sway with them in theirs.

Com.

On, to the Capitol!

[Flourish. Cornets. Exeunt in state, as before. The Tribunes remain.

Bru.

All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights

Are spectacled to see him: your prattling nurse

Into a rapture lets her baby cry

While she chats him: the kitchen malkin pins

Her richest lockram ’bout her reechy neck,

Clambering the walls to eye him: stalls, bulks, windows,

Are smother’d up, leads fill’d, and ridges hors’d

With variable complexions, all agreeing

In earnestness to see him: seld-shown flamens

Do press among the popular throngs, and puff

To win a vulgar station: our veil’d dames

Commit the war of white and damask in

Their nicely-gawded cheeks to the wanton spoil

Of Phœbus’ burning kisses: such a pother

As if that whatsoever god who leads him

Were slily crept into his human powers,

And gave him graceful posture.

Sic.

On the sudden

I warrant him consul.

Bru.

Then our office may,

During his power, go sleep.

Sic.

He cannot temperately transport his honours

From where he should begin and end, but will

Lose those he hath won.

Bru.

In that there’s comfort.

Sic.

Doubt not, the commoners, for whom we stand,

But they upon their ancient malice will

Forget with the least cause these his new honours,

Which that he’ll give them, make I as little question

As he is proud to do’t.

Bru.

I heard him swear,

Were he to stand for consul, never would he

Appear i’ the market-place, nor on him put

The napless vesture of humility;

Nor, showing, as the manner is, his wounds

To the people, beg their stinking breaths.

Sic.

’Tis right.

Bru.

It was his word. O! he would miss it rather

Than carry it but by the suit o’ the gentry to him

And the desire of the nobles.

Sic.

I wish no better

Than have him hold that purpose and to put it

In execution.

Bru.

’Tis most like he will.

Sic.

It shall be to him then, as our good wills,

A sure destruction.

Bru.

So it must fall out

To him or our authorities. For an end,

We must suggest the people in what hatred

He still hath held them; that to his power he would

Have made them mules, silenc’d their pleaders, and

Dispropertied their freedoms; holding them,

In human action and capacity,

Of no more soul nor fitness for the world

Than camels in the war; who have their provand

Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows

For sinking under them.

Sic.

This, as you say, suggested

At some time when his soaring insolence

Shall teach the people—which time shall not want,

If he be put upon ’t; and that’s as easy

As to set dogs on sheep—will be his fire

To kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze

Shall darken him for ever.

Enter a Messenger.

Bru.

What’s the matter?

Mess.

You are sent for to the Capitol. ’Tis thought

That Marcius shall be consul.

I have seen the dumb men throng to see him, and

The blind to hear him speak: matrons flung gloves,

Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchers

Upon him as he pass’d; the nobles bended,

As to Jove’s statue, and the commons made

A shower and thunder with their caps and shouts:

I never saw the like.

Bru.

Let’s to the Capitol;

And carry with us ears and eyes for the time,

But hearts for the event.

Sic.

Have with you.

[Exeunt.

Scene II.—

The Same. The Capitol.

Enter two Officers to lay cushions.

First Off.

Come, come, they are almost here.

How many stand for consulships?

Sec. Off.

Three, they say; but ’tis thought of every one Coriolanus will carry it.

First Off.

That’s a brave fellow; but he’s vengeance proud, and loves not the common people.

Sec. Off.

Faith, there have been many great men that have flattered the people, who ne’er loved them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore: so that if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and out of his noble carelessness lets them plainly see’t.

First Off.

If he did not care whether he had their love or no, he waved indifferently ’twixt doing them neither good nor harm; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone that may fully discover him their opposite. Now, to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people is as bad as that which he dislikes, to flatter them for their love.

Sec. Off.

He hath deserved worthily of his country; and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonneted, without any further deed to have them at all into their estimation and report; but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwise, were a malice, that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.

First Off.

No more of him; he is a worthy man: make way, they are coming.

A Sennet. Enter, with Lictors before them,Cominiusthe Consul,Menenius, Coriolanus,many other Senators, SiciniusandBrutus.The Senators take their places; the Tribunes take theirs also by themselves.

Men.

Having determin’d of the Volsces, and

To send for Titus Lartius, it remains,

As the main point of this our after-meeting,

To gratify his noble service that

Hath thus stood for his country: therefore, please you,

Most reverend and grave elders, to desire

The present consul, and last general

In our well-found successes, to report

A little of that worthy work perform’d

By Caius Marcius Coriolanus, whom

We meet here both to thank and to remember

With honours like himself.

First Sen.

Speak, good Cominius:

Leave nothing out for length, and make us think

Rather our state’s defective for requital,

Than we to stretch it out. [To the Tribunes.] Masters o’ the people,

We do request your kindest ears, and, after,

Your loving motion toward the common body,

To yield what passes here.

Sic.

We are convented

Upon a pleasing treaty, and have hearts

Inclinable to honour and advance

The theme of our assembly.

Bru.

Which the rather

We shall be bless’d to do, if he remember

A kinder value of the people than

He hath hereto priz’d them at.

Men.

That’s off, that’s off;

I would you rather had been silent. Please you

To hear Cominius speak?

Bru.

Most willingly;

But yet my caution was more pertinent

Than the rebuke you give it.

Men.

He loves your people;

But tie him not to be their bedfellow.

Worthy Cominius, speak.

[Coriolanusrises, and offers to go away.

Nay, keep your place.

First Sen.

Sit, Coriolanus; never shame to hear

What you have nobly done.

Cor.

Your honours’ pardon:

I had rather have my wounds to heal again

Than hear say how I got them.

Bru.

Sir, I hope

My words disbench’d you not.

Cor.

No, sir: yet oft,

When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.

You sooth’d not, therefore hurt not. But your people,

I love them as they weigh.

Men.

Pray now, sit down.

Cor.

I had rather have one scratch my head i’ the sun

When the alarum were struck than idly sit

To hear my nothings monster’d.

[Exit.

Men.

Masters of the people,

Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter,—

That’s thousand to one good one,—when you now see

He had rather venture all his limbs for honour

Than one on ’s ears to hear it. Proceed, Cominius.

Com.

I shall lack voice: the deeds of Coriolanus

Should not be utter’d feebly. It is held

That valour is the chiefest virtue, and

Most dignifies the haver: if it be,

The man I speak of cannot in the world

Be singly counterpois’d. At sixteen years,

When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he fought

Beyond the mark of others; our then dictator,

Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,

When with his Amazonian chin he drove

The bristled lips before him. He bestrid

An o’er-press’d Roman, and i’ the consul’s view

Slew three opposers: Tarquin’s self he met,

And struck him on his knee: in that day’s feats,

When he might act the woman in the scene,

He prov’d best man i’ the field, and for his meed

Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age

Man-enter’d thus, he waxed like a sea,

And in the brunt of seventeen battles since

He lurch’d all swords of the garland. For this last,

Before and in Corioli, let me say,

I cannot speak him home: he stopp’d the fliers,

And by his rare example made the coward

Turn terror into sport: as weeds before

A vessel under sail, so men obey’d,

And fell below his stem: his sword, death’s stamp,

Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot

He was a thing of blood, whose every motion

Was tim’d with dying cries: alone he enter’d

The mortal gate of the city, which he painted

With shunless destiny; aidless came off,

And with a sudden re-enforcement struck

Corioli like a planet. Now all’s his:

When by and by the din of war ’gan pierce

His ready sense; then straight his doubled spirit

Re-quicken’d what in flesh was fatigate,

And to the battle came he; where he did

Run reeking o’er the lives of men, as if

’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.

He’s right noble:

Let him be call’d for.

First Sen.

Call Coriolanus.

Off.

He doth appear.

Re-enterCoriolanus.

Men.

The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas’d

To make thee consul.

Cor.

I do owe them still

My life and services.

Men.

It then remains

That you do speak to the people.

Cor.

I do beseech you,

Let me o’erleap that custom, for I cannot

Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them,

For my wounds’ sake, to give their suffrage: please you,

That I may pass this doing.

Sic.

Sir, the people

Must have their voices; neither will they bate

One jot of ceremony.

Men.

Put them not to ’t:

Pray you, go fit you to the custom, and

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.

[Aside toSicinius.] Mark you that?

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 butSiciniusandBrutus.

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.

Bru.

Come; we’ll inform them

Of our proceedings here: on the market-place

I know they do attend us.

[Exeunt.

Scene III.—

The Same. The Forum.

Enter several Citizens.

First Cit.

Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

Sec. Cit.

We may, sir, if we will.

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.

First Cit.

And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.

Third Cit.

We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some abram, 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.

Sec. 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 block-head; but if it were at liberty, ’twould, sure, southward.

Sec. Cit.

Why that way?

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.

Sec. 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.

Re-enterCoriolanus,in a gown of humility, andMenenius.

Here he comes, and in a gown of humility mark his behaviour. We are not to stay all together, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He’s to make his requests by particulars; wherein every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues: therefore follow me, and I’ll direct you how you shall go by him.

All.

Content, content.

[Exeunt Citizens.

Men.

O, sir, you are not right: have you not known

The worthiest men have done’t?

Cor.

What must I say?

‘I pray, sir,’—Plague upon’t! I cannot bring

My tongue to such a pace. ‘Look, sir, my wounds!

I got them in my country’s service, when

Some certain of your brethren roar’d and ran

From the 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 ’em.

Men.

You’ll mar all:

I’ll leave you. Pray you, speak to ’em, I pray you,

In wholesome manner.

Cor.

Bid them wash their faces,

And keep their teeth clean.

[ExitMenenius.

So, here comes a brace.

Re-enter two Citizens.

You know the cause, sir, of my standing here?

First Cit.

We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to ’t.

Cor.

Mine own desert.

Sec. Cit.

Your own desert!

Cor.

Ay, not mine own desire.

First Cit.

How! not your own desire?

Cor.

No, sir, ’twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging.

First 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?

First Cit.

The price is, 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, sir; what say you?

Sec. Cit.

You shall ha ’t, worthy sir.

Cor.

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

First Cit.

But this is something odd.

Sec. Cit.

An ’twere to give again,—but ’tis no matter.

[Exeunt the two Citizens.

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 bountifully 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.

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.

Cor.

Most sweet voices!

Better it is to die, better to starve,

Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.

Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here,

To beg of Hob and Dick, 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 o’er-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.

Here come more voices.

Re-enter three other Citizens.

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.

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!

[Exeunt Citizens.

Cor.

Worthy voices!

Re-enterMenenius,withBrutusandSicinius.

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 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.

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.

[ExeuntCoriolanusandMenenius.

He has it now; and by his looks, methinks,

’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.

Bra.

We pray the gods he may deserve your love.

Sec. Cit.

Amen, sir. To my poor unworthy notice,

He mock’d us when he begg’d our voices.

Third Cit.

Certainly,

He flouted us downright.

First Cit.

No, ’tis his kind of speech; he did not mock us.

Sec. Cit.

Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says

He used 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

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?

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

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.

Bru.

Did you perceive

He did solicit you 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 denied the asker? and now again

Of him that did not ask, but mock, bestow

Your su’d-for tongues?

Third Cit.

He’s not confirm’d; we may deny him yet.

Sec. Cit.

And will deny him:

I’ll have five hundred voices of that sound.

First Cit.

Ay, 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

Their liberties; make them of no more voice

Than dogs that are as often beat for barking

As therefore kept to do so.

Sic.

Let them assemble;

And, on a safer judgment, all revoke

Your ignorant election. Enforce his pride,

And his old hate unto you; besides, forget not

With what contempt he wore the humble weed;

How in his suit he scorn’d you; but your loves,

Thinking upon his services, took from you

The apprehension of his present portance,

Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion

After the inveterate hate he bears you.

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-occupied 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 continu’d, and what stock he springs of,

The noble house o’ the Marcians, from whence came

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;

And Censorinus, that was so surnam’d,—

And nobly nam’d so, twice being censor,—

Was his great ancestor.

Sic.

One thus descended,

That hath, beside, well in his person wrought

To be set high in place, we did commend

To your remembrances: but you have found,

Scaling his present bearing with his past,

That he’s your fixed enemy, and revoke

Your sudden approbation.

Bru.

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.

All.

We will so; almost all

Repent in their election.

[Exeunt Citizens.

Bru.

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 will be there before the stream o’ the people;

And this shall seem, as partly ’tis, their own,

Which we have goaded onward.

[Exeunt.