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Enter Coriolanus in a Gown with Menenius.

Here he comes, and in the Gown of Humility; mark his behaviour: we are not to ftay 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 done't?

Cor. What must I fay?

I pray, Sir,

plague upon't, I cannot bring My tongue to fuch a pace! Look, Sir,-my woundsI got them in my Country's fervice, when

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.

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 wholesome manner.

Citizens approach.

Cor. Bid them wash their faces,

[Exit.

And keep their teeth clean.-So, 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.

Cor. Mine own defert.

2 Cit. Your own defert?

Cor.

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.

1 Cit. You mufl 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 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.

1 Cit. But this is fomething odd.

2 Cit. An 'twere to give again :-but 'tis no matter.

Two other Citizens.

[Exeunt.

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 deserved nobly of your Country, and you have not deferved nobly.

Cor. Your ænigma.

1 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 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 practife 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 Defires: therefore, befeech you, I may be Conful..

2 Cit. We hope to find you our Friend; and therefore give you our voices heartily.

1 Čit. 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 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 first we do deserve.
Why in this woolvifh Gown fhould I ftand here,
To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,

Their needlefs Vaucher? Cuftom calls me to't
What Custom wills in all things, fhould we do't,
The duft on antique time would lie 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 voice.

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 seen, and heard of: for your voices, have Done many things, fome less, fome more:

voices:

Indeed, I would be Conful.

your

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

2 Cit. Therefore let him be Conful, the Gods give him joy, and make him a good friend to the People. God fave thee, noble Conful. [Exeunt.

All. Amen, amen.

Cor. Worthy voices!
VOL. VIII,

Enter

Enter Menenius, with Brutus and Sicinius.

Men. You've flood your limitation: and the Tribune, Endue you with the people's voice. Remains, That in th' official marks invested, you,

Anon to meet the Senate.

Cor. Is this done?

Sic. The Cuftom of Requeft you have difcharg'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. 6

Cor. May I change thefe garments?
Sic. You may, Sir.

[again,

Cor. That I'll ftraight do: and, knowing myself 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.

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[Exeunt Coriol, and Men.

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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 the Gods, pray he may deferve our 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. 12 Cit. Not one amongst us, fave yourself but fays, He us'd us fcornfully: he should have fhew'd us His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for's Country.

Sic. Why, fo he did, I am sure.

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

you

voices-thank

Your moft fweet voices- now you have left your

voices,

I have nothing further with you.

mockery?

Wa'n't this

Sic. Why, either, were you ignorant to fee't? Or, seeing it, of such 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 spake 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' State,
If he fhould ftill malignantly remain

Faft foe to the Plebeians, your voices might
Be curfes to yourselves. You fhould 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 said,

As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his fpirit,
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;

C 2

Which

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