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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, 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 one's, by two's, and by three's. He's to make his requests by particulars, wherein 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.

Men. Oh Sir, you are not right; have you not known The worthieft men have don't?

Cor. What must I say?

I pray, Sir,-plague upon't, I cannot bring
My tongue to fuch a pace. Look, Sir,
I got them in my country's fervice, when
Some certain of your brethren roar'd, and ran
From noife of our own drums.

Men. Oh me, the Gods!

my wounds.

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, like the advices
Which our Divines lofe on 'em,

Men. You'll mar all.

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

In wholfome manner.

Two Citizens approach.

Cor. Bid them wash their faces,

And keep their teeth clean

[Exit.

fo, 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.

Car. 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.

VOL. VII.

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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' Confulfhip? 1 Cit. The price is, to afk 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 say you?

2 Cit. You shall 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. An 'twere to give again : —

- but 'tis no matter.

Two other Citizens.

[Exeant.

Cor. Pray you now, if it may ftand 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 deferyed nobly.

Cor. Your ænigma

1 Cit. You have been a fcourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to her friends; you have not indeed loved the common people.

Cor. You fhould account me the more virtuous, that I have not been common in my love; but I will, Sir, flatter my fworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer eftimation of them, for 'tis a condition they account gentle and fince the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my cap than my heart, I will practise 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 bountifully 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 have received many wounds for your country. Cor. I will not feal your knowledge with thewing 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

Better it is to die, better to ftarve,

Than crave the hire, which firft we do deserve. *
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 battles thrice fix I've feen, and heard of: for your voices, have

Done many things, fome lefs, fome more :-your voices : Indeed I would be Conful.

1 Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go without any honeft man's voice.

2 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've ftood your limitation: and the Tribunes Endue you with the people's voice. Remains, That in th'official marks invefted, you

Anon do meet the Senate.

Cor. Is this done?

Sic. The custom of request you have discharg'd:
The people do admit you, and are fummon'd
To meet anon upon your approbation.

Cor. Where? at the fenate-house ?

Sic. There, Coriolanus.

Cor. May I then change these garments ?

Sic. Sir, you may.

Cor. That I'll ftraight do: and knowing my felf again,

- we do deferve.

Why in this woolvifh gown fhould I ftand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,
Their needlefs voucher? cufton calls me to't ---
What cuftom 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.

Three citizens, &c.

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Repair to th' fenate-house.

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

Sic. Fare you well.

[Exeunt Coriol. and Men.

SCENE VIII.

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 Citizens.

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.

1 Cit. No, 'tis his kind of fpeech, he did not mock us. 2 Cit. Not one amongst us, fave your felf, but fays He us'd us fcornfully: he should have shew'd us His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for's country. Sic. Why fo he did, I am fure.

All. No, no man faw 'em.

3 Cit.He faid he'd wounds, which he could fhew in private: And with his cap, thus waving it in fcorn,

I would be Conful, fays he aged cuftom,
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 bave left your voices, I bave nothing further with you. Wa'n't this mockery? Sic. Why either were you impotent to fee't,

Or feeing it, of fuch childish friendliness,

To yield your voices ?

Bru. Could you not have told him,

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As you were leffon'd? when he had no power,
But was a petty servant to the state,
He was your enemy, ftill fpake against
Your liberties, and charters that you bear
I' th' body of the weal: and now arriving
At place of potency, and fway o'th' ftate,

If he should still malignantly remain

Faft foe to the Plebeians, your voices might
Be curfes to your felves. You should have faid,
That as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Than what he ftood for; fo his gracious nature
Would think upon you for your voices, and
Tranflate his malice tow'rds 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 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 crufh? why had your bodies
No heart among you? or had you tongues, to cry
Against the rectorship of judgment?

Sic. Have you

Ere now deny'd the afker; and now again,
On him that did not afk, but mock, bestow'd
Your fu'd-for tongues?

3 Cit. He's not confirm'd, we may

Deny him yet.

2 Cit. Ay and we will deny him :

I'll have five hundred voices of that found.

1 Cit. Ay, twice five hundred, and their friends to piece'em, Bru, Get you hence inftantly, and tell those friends, They've 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 fo.

Sic. Let them affemble; and one fafer judgment,

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