Com. Our spoils he kick'd at, And look'd upon things precious, as they were His deeds with doing them; and is content To spend the time, to spend it. Men. He is right noble; Let him be call'd for. Com. He doth appear. [Exit an OFFICer. Enter CORIOLANUS and the OFFICER. Men. The senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'd To make thee consul. Cor. I do owe them still My life and services. Men. It then remains, That you do speak to the people. Cor. I do beseech you, Let me o'erleap that custom; for I cannot Put on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them, For my wounds' sake, to give their suffrage; please you, That I may pass this doing. Sic. Sir, the people Must have their voices; neither will they bate One jot of ceremony. Men. Put them not to't: 'Pray you, go fit you to the custom; and Take to you, as your predecessors have, Your honour with the form. 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 receiv'd them for the hire Of their breath only : Men. Do not stand upon't.— We recommended to you, tribunes of the people, Com. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour ! SCENE V. A Street in Rome. Enter the CITIZENS. 2 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. 1 Cit. We may, sir, if we will. 2 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 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. 1 Cit. Here he comes, and in the grown of humility; mark his behaviour. We are not to stay altogether 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, follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him. All, Content, content. [Exeunt. Enter CORIOLANUS with MENENIUS. Men. O, sir, you are not right; have you not known The worthiest men have done't? Cor. What must I say? I pray, sir,Plague upon't! I cannot bring Men. O me, the gods! You must not speak of that; you must desire them To think upon you. Cor. Think upon me? Hang'em! I would they would forget me. Men. You'll mar all: I'll leave you: 'Pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you, In wholesome manner. [Exit MENENIUS. Enter the FIRST and SECOND CITIZENS. Cor. So, here comes a brace. You know the cause, sirs, of my standing here. 1 Cit. We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't. Cor. Mine own desert. 2 Cit. Your own desert Cor. Ay, not 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've wounds to show you, Which shall be yours 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't were to give again,-But 'tis no matter. Cor. Most sweet voices! Better it is to die, better to starve, [Exeunt CITIZENS. Then crave the hire, which first we do deserve.- Enter other CITIZENS. Your voices:-for your voices I have fought: Indeed, I would be consul. 3 Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice. 4 Cit. Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy, and make him good friend to the people! All. Amen, amen.— Heaven save thee, noble consul! Cor. Worthy voices! [Exeunt the CITIZENS. Enter MENENIUS, BRUTUS, and SICINIUS. Men. You've stood your limitation; and the tri bunes Enduc you with the people's voice: Remains, That, in the official marks invested, you 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! Cor. That I'll straight do: and, knowing myself again, Repair to the senate-house. [Exit CORIOLANUS. Men. I'll keep you company.-Will you along? Bru. We stay here for the people. Sic. Fare you well. [Exit MENENIUS. 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! Enter the CITIZENS. Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose this man? 2 Cit. He has our voices, sir. Bru. We pray the gods, he may deserve your loves. 1 Cit. Amen, sir: To my poor unworthy notice, He mock'd us, when he begg'd our voices. 3. Cit, Certainly, He flouted us downright. 2 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of speech, he did not mock us. 1 Cit. Not one among 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. 1 Cit. No; no man saw them. |