41 I got them in my country's service, when Men. O me, the gods! You must not speak of that; you must desire them Cor. Think upon me? Hang 'em! I would they would forget me, like the virtues Men. You'll mar all ; I'll leave you: Pray you, speak to them, I pray you, Enter two Citizens. Cor. Bid them wash their faces, [Exit. And keep their teeth clean.-So, here comes a brace. You know the cause, sir, of my standing here. 1 Cit. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't. Cor. Mine own desert. Cit. Your own desert? Mine own desire. 1 Cit. How! not your own desire? Cor. No, sir: 'Twas never my desire yet, To trouble the poor with begging. 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? 1 Cit. The price is, sir, to ask it kindly. Cor. Kindly? Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to show you, Which shall be your's in private.-Your good voice, sir ; What say you? 2 Cit. You shall have it, worthy sir. Cor. A match, sir : There is in all two worthy voices begg'd ; I have your alms; adieu, 1 Cit. But this is something odd. 2 Cit. An 'twere to give again,-But 'tis no matter. [Ex. 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 dear 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 bewitchments 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 further. Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily! [Exe. Better is it to die, better to starve, Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. 'Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to't :- For truth to over-peer.-Rather than fool it so, To one that would do thus.—I am half through ; Enter three other Citizens. Here come more voices, Your voices for your voices I have fought ; [9] I will not strengthen or complete your knowledge. The seal is that which gives authenticity to a writing. JOHNS. [1] Mr. Steevens is clearly right, in supposing the allusion to be to the "wolf in sheep's clothing; not indeed that Coriolanus means to call him. self a wolf; but merely to say, "Why should I stand here playing the hypocrite,and simulating the humility which is not in my nature." RITSON. 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! All. Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul! Cor. Worthy voices ! [Exeunt Citizens. 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 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 COR. and MEN. -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 flouted us down-right. 1 Cit. No, 'tis 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 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, Your voices therefore: When we granted that, To yield your voices? Bru. Could you not have told him, As you were lesson'd,-When he had no power, Sic. Thus to have said, As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spirit, Tying him to aught; so, putting him to rage, Bru. Did you perceive, He did solicit you in free contempt, 3 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? [2] Did you want knowledge to discern it? JOHNS. JOHNS. Sic. Have you, 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. 1 Cit. Itwice 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,5 A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd Sic. Say, you chose him More after our commandment, than as guided Than what you should, made you against the grain 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, f4] Your voices that hitherto have been solicited. [5] Object his pride, and enforce the objection. STEEV. |