When, by and by, the din of war gan pierce And look'd upon things precious as they were His deeds with doing them, and is content Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleased Let me o'erleap that custom, for I cannot 140. that custom. Plutarch tells that suitors went in a toga the principal and peculiarly Roman garment without a tunica, or woollen sleeveless 120 130 140 undergarment. North translated Amyot's rendering of this, 'un robbe simple, sans saye dessoules,' by a simple gown ... without any coat under it.' Put on the gown, stand naked and entreat them, For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage: please Pray you, go fit you to the custom and Take to you, as your predecessors have, 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 unaching scars which I should hide, As if I had received them for the hire Of their breath only! Men. Senators. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! [Flourish of cornets. Exeunt all but Sicinius and Brutus. 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. Of our proceedings here: on the market-place, Come, we'll inform them [Exeunt. I know, they do attend us. 150 160 SCENE III. The same. The Forum. Enter seven or eight 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 10 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? judge my wit would fly? Which way do you 20 Third Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will; 'tis strongly wedged 30 I. Once, once for all. 21. abram, auburn. 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 40 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. Enter CORIOLANUS in a gown of humility, with MENENIUS. Here he comes, and in the 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 50 follow me, and I'll direct him. All. Content, content. you how you shall go by [Exeunt Citizens. Men. O sir, you are not right: have you not 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 48. by particulars, to each of us individually. From the noise of our own drums.' Men. O me, the gods! 60 You must not speak of that: you must desire them To think upon you. Cor. Think upon me! hang 'em! You'll mar all: I would they would forget me, like the virtues Men. I'll leave you pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you, Cor. [Exit. Bid them wash their faces And keep their teeth clean. [Re-enter two of the Citizens.] So, here comes a brace. [Re-enter a Third Citizen.] You know the cause, sir, of my standing here. Third Cit. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to 't. Cor. Mine own desert. Sec. Cit. Your own desert! Cor. Ay, but not mine own desire. Third Cit. How not your own desire ? Cor. No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging. Third 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's in all two worthy voices begged. I have your alms: adieu. 64. lose by 'em, i.e. preach to them in vain. 70 80 73. F, and F, print not for F1 but. |