1    Once, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.

2    We may, sir, if we will.

3    We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a
4    power that we have no power to do; for if he show us
5    his wounds and tell us his deeds, we are to put our
6    tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so, if
7    he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him
8    our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is
9    monstrous, and for the multitude to be ingrateful,
10   were to make a monster of the multitude: of the
11   which we being members, should bring ourselves to be
12   monstrous members.

13   And to make us no better thought of, a little help
14   will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he
15   himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.

16   We have been called so of many; not that our heads
17   are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald,
18   but that our wits are so diversely coloured: and
19   truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of
20   one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south,
21   and their consent of one direct way should be at
22   once to all the points o' the compass.

23   Think you so? Which way do you judge my wit would
24   fly?

25   Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's
26   will;'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head, but
27   if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure, southward.

28   Why that way?

29   To lose itself in a fog, where being three parts
30   melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return
31   for conscience sake, to help to get thee a wife.

32   You are never without your tricks: you may, you may.

33   Are you all resolved to give your voices? But
34   that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I
35   say, if he would incline to the people, there was
36   never a worthier man.
Enter CORIOLANUS in a gown of humility, with MENENIUS
37   Here he comes, and in the gown of humility: mark his
38   behavior. We are not to stay all together, but to
39   come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and
40   by threes. He's to make his requests by
41   particulars; wherein every one of us has a single
42   honour, in giving him our own voices with our own
43   tongues: therefore follow me, and I direct you how
44   you shall go by him.

45   Content, content.

46   O sir, you are not right: have you not known
47   The worthiest men have done't?

48   What must I say?
49   'I Pray, sir'--Plague upon't! I cannot bring
50   My tongue to such a pace:--'Look, sir, my wounds!
51   I got them in my country's service, when
52   Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran
53   From the noise of our own drums.'

54   O me, the gods!
55   You must not speak of that: you must desire them
56   To think upon you.

57   Think upon me! hang 'em!
58   I would they would forget me, like the virtues
59   Which our divines lose by 'em.

60   You'll mar all:
61   I'll leave you: pray you, speak to 'em, I pray you,
62   In wholesome manner.

63   Bid them wash their faces
64   And keep their teeth clean.
Re-enter two of the Citizens
65   So, here comes a brace.
Re-enter a third Citizen
66   You know the cause, air, of my standing here.

67   We do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.

68   Mine own desert.

69   Your own desert!

70   Ay, but not mine own desire.

71   How not your own desire?

72   No, sir,'twas never my desire yet to trouble the
73   poor with begging.

74   You must think, if we give you any thing, we hope to
75   gain by you.

76   Well then, I pray, your price o' the consulship?

77   The price is to ask it kindly.

78   Kindly! Sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to
79   show you, which shall be yours in private. Your
80   good voice, sir; what say you?

81   You shall ha' it, worthy sir.

82   A match, sir. There's in all two worthy voices
83   begged. I have your alms: adieu.

84   But this is something odd.

85   An 'twere to give again,--but 'tis no matter.

86   Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your
87   voices that I may be consul, I have here the
88   customary gown.

89   You have deserved nobly of your country, and you
90   have not deserved nobly.

91   Your enigma?

92   You have been a scourge to her enemies, you have
93   been a rod to her friends; you have not indeed loved
94   the common people.

95   You should account me the more virtuous that I have
96   not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my
97   sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer
98   estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account
99   gentle: and since the wisdom of their choice is
100  rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise
101  the insinuating nod and be off to them most
102  counterfeitly; that is, sir, I will counterfeit the
103  bewitchment of some popular man and give it
104  bountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you,
105  I may be consul.

106  We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give
107  you our voices heartily.

108  You have received many wounds for your country.

109  I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I
110  will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.

111  The gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

112  Most sweet voices!
113  Better it is to die, better to starve,
114  Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.
115  Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here,
116  To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,
117  Their needless vouches? Custom calls me to't:
118  What custom wills, in all things should we do't,
119  The dust on antique time would lie unswept,
120  And mountainous error be too highly heapt
121  For truth to o'er-peer. Rather than fool it so,
122  Let the high office and the honour go
123  To one that would do thus. I am half through;
124  The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.
Re-enter three Citizens more
125  Here come more voices.
126  Your voices: for your voices I have fought;
127  Watch'd for your voices; for Your voices bear
128  Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six
129  I have seen and heard of; for your voices have
130  Done many things, some less, some more your voices:
131  Indeed I would be consul.

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

134  Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy,
135  and make him good friend to the people!

136  Amen, amen. God save thee, noble consul!

137  Worthy voices!

138  You have stood your limitation; and the tribunes
139  Endue you with the people's voice: remains
140  That, in the official marks invested, you
141  Anon do meet the senate.

142  Is this done?

143  The custom of request you have discharged:
144  The people do admit you, and are summon'd
145  To meet anon, upon your approbation.

146  Where? at the senate-house?

147  There, Coriolanus.

148  May I change these garments?

149  You may, sir.

150  That I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again,
151  Repair to the senate-house.

152  I'll keep you company. Will you along?

153  We stay here for the people.

154  Fare you well.
Exeunt CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS
155  He has it now, and by his looks methink
156  'Tis warm at 's heart.

157  With a proud heart he wore his humble weeds.
158  will you dismiss the people?

159  How now, my masters! have you chose this man?

160  He has our voices, sir.

161  We pray the gods he may deserve your loves.

162  Amen, sir: to my poor unworthy notice,
163  He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices.

164  Certainly
165  He flouted us downright.

166  No,'tis his kind of speech: he did not mock us.

167  Not one amongst us, save yourself, but says
168  He used us scornfully: he should have show'd us
169  His marks of merit, wounds received for's country.

170  Why, so he did, I am sure.

171  No, no; no man saw 'em.

172  He said he had wounds, which he could show
173  in private;
174  And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,
175  'I would be consul,' says he: 'aged custom,
176  But by your voices, will not so permit me;
177  Your voices therefore.' When we granted that,
178  Here was 'I thank you for your voices: thank you:
179  Your most sweet voices: now you have left
180  your voices,
181  I have no further with you.' Was not this mockery?

182  Why either were you ignorant to see't,
183  Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
184  To yield your voices?

185  Could you not have told him
186  As you were lesson'd, when he had no power,
187  But was a petty servant to the state,
188  He was your enemy, ever spake against
189  Your liberties and the charters that you bear
190  I' the body of the weal; and now, arriving
191  A place of potency and sway o' the state,
192  If he should still malignantly remain
193  Fast foe to the plebeii, your voices might
194  Be curses to yourselves? You should have said
195  That as his worthy deeds did claim no less
196  Than what he stood for, so his gracious nature
197  Would think upon you for your voices and
198  Translate his malice towards you into love,
199  Standing your friendly lord.

200  Thus to have said,
201  As you were fore-advised, had touch'd his spirit
202  And tried his inclination; from him pluck'd
203  Either his gracious promise, which you might,
204  As cause had call'd you up, have held him to
205  Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,
206  Which easily endures not article
207  Tying him to aught; so putting him to rage,
208  You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler
209  And pass'd him unelected.

210  Did you perceive
211  He did solicit you in free contempt
212  When he did need your loves, and do you think
213  That his contempt shall not be bruising to you,
214  When he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodies
215  No heart among you? or had you tongues to cry
216  Against the rectorship of judgment?

217  Have you
218  Ere now denied the asker? and now again
219  Of him that did not ask, but mock, bestow
220  Your sued-for tongues?

221  He's not confirm'd; we may deny him yet.

222  And will deny him:
223  I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.

224  I twice five hundred and their friends to piece 'em.

225  Get you hence instantly, and tell those friends,
226  They have chose a consul that will from them take
227  Their liberties; make them of no more voice
228  Than dogs that are as often beat for barking
229  As therefore kept to do so.

230  Let them assemble,
231  And on a safer judgment all revoke
232  Your ignorant election; enforce his pride,
233  And his old hate unto you; besides, forget not
234  With what contempt he wore the humble weed,
235  How in his suit he scorn'd you; but your loves,
236  Thinking upon his services, took from you
237  The apprehension of his present portance,
238  Which most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashion
239  After the inveterate hate he bears you.

240  Lay
241  A fault on us, your tribunes; that we laboured,
242  No impediment between, but that you must
243  Cast your election on him.

244  Say, you chose him
245  More after our commandment than as guided
246  By your own true affections, and that your minds,
247  Preoccupied with what you rather must do
248  Than what you should, made you against the grain
249  To voice him consul: lay the fault on us.

250  Ay, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you.
251  How youngly he began to serve his country,
252  How long continued, and what stock he springs of,
253  The noble house o' the Marcians, from whence came
254  That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,
255  Who, after great Hostilius, here was king;
256  Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,
257  That our beat water brought by conduits hither;
Censorinus,
258  And nobly named so,
by the people chosen
259  Twice being censor,
260  Was his great ancestor.

261  One thus descended,
262  That hath beside well in his person wrought
263  To be set high in place, we did commend
264  To your remembrances: but you have found,
265  Scaling his present bearing with his past,
266  That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
267  Your sudden approbation.

268  Say, you ne'er had done't--
269  Harp on that still--but by our putting on;
270  And presently, when you have drawn your number,
271  Repair to the Capitol.

272  We will so: almost all
273  Repent in their election.

274  Let them go on;
275  This mutiny were better put in hazard,
276  Than stay, past doubt, for greater:
277  If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
278  With their refusal, both observe and answer
279  The vantage of his anger.

280  To the Capitol, come:
281  We will be there before the stream o' the people;
282  And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,
283  Which we have goaded onward.