That I shall blush in acting, and might well Be taken from the people. Bru. Mark you that? thus I did, and thus; Cor. To brag unto them, Show them th' 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 recommend to you, tribunes of the people, Our purpose: Wish we all joy and honour. Sen. To Coriolanus come all joy and honour! Bru. [Flourish. Exeunt Senators. 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. Come; we'll inform them Of our proceedings here: on the market-place, I know they do attend us. [Exeunt. 1 Cit. Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him. 2 Cit. We may, Sir, if we will. 3 Cit. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for if he shows 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. 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. 3 Cit. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, 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., 2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge, my wit would fly? 3 Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will: 't is strongly wedged up in a block-head; but if it were at liberty, 't would, sure, southward. 2 Cit. Why that way? 3 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. 2 Cit. You are never without your tricks: you may. you may, 3 Cit. Are you all resolved to give your 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 and 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, follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him. All. Content, content. Men. O Sir, you are not right: have you not known The worthiest men have done 't? I got them in my country's service, when Men. [Exeunt. my wounds; O me, the gods! You must not speak of that: you must desire them To think upon you. Cor. Think upon me? Hangem! I would they would forget me, like the virtues Which our divines lose by 'em. Men. You'll mar all: I'll leave you. Pray you, speak to them, I pray you, [Exit. Cor. Enter two Citizens. Bid them wash their faces, 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. No, Sir: 't was never my desire yet, To trouble the poor with begging. 1 Cit. gain by you. Cor. You must think, if we give you any thing, we hope to Well then, I pray, your price o' the consulship? 1 Cit. The price is, to ask it kindly. Cor. Kindly? Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to show you, What say you? 2 Cit. Your good voice, You shall ha't, 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. Sir; 2 Cit. An 't were to give again, but 't is no matter. [Exeunt the 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 dearer estimation of them: 't is 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 bewitchment 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 farther. Both Cit. The gods give you joy, Sir, heartily. [Exeunt. Better it is to die, better to starve, Than crave the hire which first we do deserve. Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here, Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to 't: --- To one that would do thus. I am half through: The one part suffer'd, the other will I do. Enter three other Citizens. Your voices: for your voices I have fought; 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. Re-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 th' official marks invested, you Anon do meet the senate. Sic. The custom of request you have discharg'd. The people do admit you; and are summon'd To meet anon upon your approbation. |