Cor.

Kindly?

Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to show you,

2 Cit. An't were to give again, but 't is no matter.

-

[Exeunt the 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: 't is 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 farther. Both Cit. The gods give you joy, Sir, heartily.

[Exeunt.

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.

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.

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 th' official marks invested, you

Anon do meet the senate.

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. That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again,
Repair to the senate-house.

Men. I'll keep you company.
Bru. We stay here for the people.

Sic.

Will you along?

Fare you well.

[Exeunt CORIOL. and MENEN.

With a proud heart he wore

He has it now; and by his looks, methinks, 'Tis warm at 's heart.

Bru.

His humble weeds. Will you dismiss the people?

Re-enter Citizens.

Sic. How now, my masters! have you chose this man? 1 Cit. He has our voices, Sir.

2 Cit. Amen, Sir. To my poor unworthy notice,

may deserve your loves.

Certainly,

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

3 Cit.

He flouted us down-right.

1 Cit. No, 't is his kind of speech; he did not mock us. 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's country. Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.

All.

No, no; no man saw em.

3 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,
Your most sweet voices: -
I have no farther with you.".

thank you,

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 called 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 th' 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 sued-for tongues?

3 Cit. He's not confirm'd; we may deny him yet.

2 Cit. And will deny him:

I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.

1 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-occupy'd 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 continued, 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.