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

Cor. Your euigma?

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 ac. count gentle: and since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will prac. tise the insinuating nod, and be off to them most counterfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the be witchinent of some popular man, and give it boun. tifully 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 trou. ble you no further. Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

[Ereunt. 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 gowo should I stand here, To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear, Their needless couches? 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 bighly heap'd For truth to over.peer-Rather than fool it so, Let the bigh offices 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 mau's voice.

6 Cit. Therefore let him be consul: The gods give him joy, and make bim good friend to the people!

All. Amen, Amen. God save thee, noble consul! (Ereunt Citizens. Cor.

Worthy voices !

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 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 then 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.

[Exeunt Coriol. 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

man? 1 Cit. He has our voices, sir. 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.

Certainly, He fouted us down-right.

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, 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 thunk you for your voices,-thank

Your most sweet voices :-now you have left your

voices, I have no further with you :- Was not this

mockery?
Sic. Why, either, you were 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's, 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
l' 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 try'd his inclination ; from him pluck'd Either bis gracious promise, which you might, As cause had call'd you up, have held him to; Or else it would have gall'd his surely 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

• Plebeians, common

No heart among you? Or had you tongues, to cry
Against the rectorship of judgement?
Sic.

Have you,
Ere now, deny'd the asker? and now again,
On him, that did not ask, but mock, bestow
Your su'd.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. I twice five bundred, 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 judgement, all revoke
Your ignorant election: Enforce* bis 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 gibingly, ungravely he did fashion
After the inveterate hate he bears you,

Bru.
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.