Some certain of your Brethren roar'd, and ran
From noise 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.

(21) I would they would 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.

Citizens approach.

Cor. Bid them wash their faces,

[Exit.

And keep their teeth clean.-So, here comes a brace: You know the cause, Sirs, of my standing here.

1 Git. 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.

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? 1 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. An 'twere to give again:-but 'tis no matter.

(21) I would they would forget me, like the Virtues

[Exeunt.

Which our Divines lofe by them.] i. e. I with they would forget me, as they do those virtuous Precepts, which the Divines preach up to them; and lofe by them, as it were, by their neglecting the Practice.

Twe

Two other Citizens.

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.

and

1 Cit. You have deferved nobly of your Country, you have not deferved 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; 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 wifdom 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 fhewing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.

Both. The Gods give you joy, Sir, heartily! [Exe. Cor. Moft fweet voices

Better it is to die, better to ftarve,

Than crave the hire, which firft we do deferve.
Why in this woolvish Gown fhould I stand 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.

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've seen, and heard of: for your voices, have
Done many things, fome lefs, fome more: -- your

voices:

Indeed, I would be Conful.

I 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.

Cor. Worthy voices !

[Exeunt.

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 invested, 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 Senate-house ?

Sic. There, Coriolanus.

Cor. May I change thefe garments?

Sic. You may, Sir.

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

Repair to th' Senate-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.

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 Plebeians.

Sic. How now, my mafters, have you chofe this man?

1 Cit. He has our voices, Sir.

Bru. We pray the Gods, he may deserve 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 fhould 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 man saw '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 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

now you have left your

I have nothing further with you. Wa'n't 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 was a petty fervant to the State,

He was your enemy; ftill fpake against

Your liberties, and charters that

you bear

E 3

I'th

I'th' body of the weal: and now arriving
At place of potency, and fway o'th' State,
If he fhould ftill malignantly remain
Fast 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 stood 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 cause 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 bruising 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 asker? and, now again
On 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 have five hundred voices of that found.

1 Cit. I, twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru. Get you hence inftantly, and tell those frinds, 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