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

2 Cit. Your own Desert?

Gor. Ay, not mine own Defire.

I 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.:

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

Enter two other Citizens.

But 'tis no matter.

[Exeunt.

your

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

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

Cur. Your Ænigma.

I 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 estimation of them, 'tis a condition they account gentle: And fince the wildom of their Choice, is rather to have my Hat, than my Heart, I will practice the infinuating Nod,and be off to them moft 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. I Cit. You

Dd 4

1 Cit. You have received many Wounds for your Coun

tiy.

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 ftarve,

Than crave the Hire, which firft we do deserve.
Why in this Woolvish 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 stood 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 difcharg'd: The People do admit you, and are fummon'd

Το

To meet anon upon your Approbation.
Cor. Where? at the Senate-houfe?
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.

Sie. Farewel,

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[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 you difmifs the People?

Enter the Plebeians.

Sic. How now, my Mafters, have you chose 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 fɔr'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 moft fweet 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 ftill malignantly remain

Fast Foe to th' Plebeians, your Voices might
Be Curfes to your felves. You should 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
Tranflate 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 easily endures not Article,

Tying him to ought; fo putting him to Rage,
You should have ta'en th' advantage of his Choler,
And pafs'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 Cir. 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 kept to do fc.

Sic. Let them affemble; and on a fafer Judgment,
All revoke your ignorant Election: Enforce his Pride,
And his old Hate unto you: befides, forget not,
With what Contempt he wore the humble Weed,
How in his Suit he fcorn'd you: But your Loves,
Thinking upon his Services, took from you
Th'Apprehenfion of his prefent portance.
Which moft 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 caft your Election on him.

Sic. Say, you chofe him, more after our Commandment,
Than as guided by your own true Affections, and that
Your Minds, pre-occupied with what you rather muft de,
Than what you should, made you against the grain
To Voice him Conful. Lay the fault on us.

Bru. Ay, fpare us not: Say, we read Lectures to you,
How youngly he began to ferve his Country,
How long continued, and what Stock he fprings of,
The Noble Houfe,o'th' Martians; from whence came
That Ancus Martius, Numa's Daughter's Son,
Who after great Hoftilius here was King:

Of the fame House Publius and Quintus were,
That our best Water brought by Conduits hither,
And, nobly nam'd Martins, fo, twice being Cenfor,
Was his great Ancestor.

Sic. One thus defcended,

That hath befide well in his Perfon wrought,
To be fet high in Place, we did commend
To your remembrances; but you have found,
Scaling his prefent bearing with his part,
That he's your fixed Enemy, and revoke
Your fudden Approbation..

Bru. Say, you ne'er had don't,
(Harp on that ftill) but by our putting on;

And prefently, when you have drawn your Number,
Repair to th' Capi ol.

All. We will fo; almost all repent in their Ele&tion.

[Exeunt Plebeians.

Bru

1

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