3 Cit. Nay, your Wit will not fo foon out as another Man's will, 'tis ftrongly wedg'd up in a Block-head: But if it were at Liberty, 'twould fure Southward.

2 Cit. Why that way?

3 Cit. To lofe it felf in a Fog, where being three parts melted away with rotten Dews, the fourth would return for Confcience fake, to help to get thee a Wife.

2 Cit. You are never without your Tricks,

you may.

you may,

3 Cit. Are you all refolved to give your Voices? But that's no matter, the greater part carries it, I fay. 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 ftands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He's to make his requefts by Particulars, where every one of us has a fingle Honour, in giving him our own Voices with our own Tongues: therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you fhall go by him.

All. Content, content.

[Exeunt. Men. Oh, Sir, you are not right; have you not known The worthieft Men have done't?

Cor. What must I fay, I pray, Sir?

Plague upon't, I cannot bring

My Tongue to fuch a pace. Look, Sir-my WoundsI got them in my Country's Service, when

Some certain of your Brethren roar'd, and ran

From the noife of our own Drums.

Men. Oh me the Gods! you must not speak of that, You must defire them to think upon you.

Cor. Think upon me? Hang 'em.

I wou'd they wou'd forget me, like the Virtues
Which our Divines lofe by 'em.

Men. You'll mar all.

I'll leave you: Pray you speak to 'em, I pray you,

In wholfome manner.

Enter two of the Citizens.

Cor. Bid them wash their Faces,

[Exit.

And keep their Teeth clean-So, here comes a brace:

You know the Caufe, Sirs, of my ftanding here.

1 Cit. We do, Sir; tell us what hath brought you to't. Cor. Mine own Defert.

2 Cit. Your own Defert?

Cor. Ay, not mine own Defire.

1 Cit. How, not your own Defire?

Cor. No, Sir, 'twas never my defire 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'th' Confulship?
I Cit. The Price is, to ask it kindly.

Cor. Kindly, Sir, I pray let me ha't: I have Wounds to fhew you, which fhall be yours in private: Your good Voice, Sir; what fay you?

2 Cit. You fhall ha't, worthy Sir.

Cor. A Match, Sir; there's in all two worthy Voices begg'd: I have your Alms, Adieu.

1 Cit. But this is fomething odd. 2 Cit. And 'twere to give again:

Enter two other Citizens.

But 'tis no matter.

[Exeunt.

Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your Voices, that I may be Conful, I have here the cuftomary Gown.

1 Cit. You have deferved Nobly of your Country, and you have not deserved Nobly.

Cor. Your Enigma.

1 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 fworn Brother, the People, to earn a dearer eftimation of them, 'tis a condition they account gentle: And fince the wisdom of their Choice, is rather to have my Hat, than my Heart, I will practice the infinuating Nod,and be off to them most counterfeitly; that is, Sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of fome popular Man, and give it bountiful to the defirers: Therefore, befeech you I may be Conful.

2 Cit. We hope to find you our Friend; and therefore give you our Voices heartily.

Dd 4

I Cit. You

1 Cit. You have received many Wounds for your Country.

Cor. I will not feal your Knowledge with fhewing them, I will make much of your Voices, and fo trouble you no further.

Both. The Gods give you Joy, Sir, heartily. [Exeunt. Cor. Moft fweet Voices

Better it is to die, better to starve,

Than crave the Hire, which firft we do deferve.
Why in this Woolvifh Gown fhould I ftand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,

Their needlefs Voucher? Cuftom calls me to't-
What Custom wills in all things, fhould we do't?
The Duft on antique Time would lye unfwept,
And mountainous Error be too highly heapt,
For Truth to o'er-peer. Rather than fool it fo,
Let the high Office and the Honour go,
To one that would do thus. I am half through,
The one part fuffer'd, the other will I do.
Enter three Citizens more.

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 and odd: Battels, thrice fix
I have feen, and heard of: For your Voices,
Have done many things, fome lefs, fome more:
Your Voices: For indeed I would be Conful.
1 Cit. He has d ne nobly, and cannot go without any
honeft Man's. Voice.

1 Cit. Therefore let him be Conful: The Gods give him Joy, and make him a good Friend to the People.

All. Amen, Amen. God fave thee, Noble Conful, [Exeunt. Cor. Worthy Voices

Enter Menenius, with Brutus, and Sicinius.

Men. You have ftood your Limitation:

And the Tribunes endue you with the Peoples Voice.
Remains, that in th' Official Marks invefted,

You anon do meet the Senate.

Cor. Is this done?

Sic. The Cuftom of Request you have discharg'd: The People do admit you, and are fummon'd

Το

To meet anon upon your Approbation.
Cor. Where? at the Senate-house?
Sic. There, Coriolanus.

Cor. May I change thefe Garments?

Sic. You may, Sir.

Cor. That I'll ftrait do: And knowing my felf again, Repair to th' Senate-Houfe.

Men. I'll keep you company. Will you along?
Bru. We ftay here for the People.

Sic. Farewel,

Exeunt Coriol. and Men.

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 difmifs the People?

you

Enter the Plebeians.

Sic. How now, my Mafters, have you chofe this Man? I Cit. He has our Voices, Sir.

Bru. We pray the Gods he

may deferve 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.

I Cit. No, 'tis his kind of Speech, he did not mock us.
2 Cit. Not one amongst us, fave your felf, but fays
He us'd us fcornfully: He fhou'd have fhew'd us
His Marks of Merit, Wounds receiv'd for's Country.
Sic. Why fo he did, I am fure.
All. No, no; no Man faw 'em.
3 Cit. He faid he had Wounds,
Which he could fhew in private:

And with his Hat, thus waving it in Scorn,
I would be Conful, fays he: Aged Custom,
But by your Voices, will not fo 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 nothing further with you. Was not this Mockery?
Sic. Why, either were you ignorant to fee't?
Or feeing it of fuch childish Friendliness,

To yield your Voices?

Bru. Could you not have told him,

As you were leffon'd; when he had no Power,

But

But was a petty Servant to the State,
He was your Enemy, ever spake against
Your Liberties, and the Charters that you bear
I'th' Body of the Weal: And now arriving
At place of Potency, and fway o'th' State,
If he should still malignantly remain

Faft Foe to th' Plebeians, your Voices might
Be Curfes to your felves. You fhould have faid,
That as his worthy Deeds did claim no lefs
Than what he flood for; fo 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 faid,

As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his Spirit,
And try'd his Inclination; from him pluckt,
Either his gracious Promife, which you might,
As caufe had call'd you up, have held him to;
Or else it would have gall'd his furly Nature;
Which eafily endures not Article,

Tying him to ought; fo 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 follicit you in free Contempt,

When he did need your Loves? And do you think
That his Contempt fhall not be bruifing to you,
When he hath power to cruth? Why had your Bodies
No Heart among you? Or had you Tongues, to cry
Against the Rectorship of Judgment?

Sic. Have you, e'er now, deny'd the Asker:
And, now again of him that did not ask, but mock,
Beftow your fu'd-for Tongues?

3 Cit. He's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet. 2 Cit. And will deny him:

I'll five hundred Voices of that Sound.

1 Cit. Ay,twice five hundred, and their Friends to piece’em.
Bru. Get you hence ir ftantly, and tell thofe Friends,
They have chofe a Conful that will from them take
Their Liberties, make them of no more Voice

Than Dogs, that are as often beat for Barking,
As therefore kep: to do so.