S82
CORIOLANUS.
[Act II.
Cor. Your enigma?
3 Cit. You have been a scourge to her ene-mies, you have been a rod to her friends ; youhave not, indeed, loved the common people.
Cor. You should account me the more vir-tuous, 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 ; ’tis a con-dition they account gentle: and since the wis-dom of their choice is rather to have my hatthan my heart, I will practise the insinuatingnod, and be off to them most counterfeitly ;that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchmentof some popular man, and give it bountifully tothe desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may beconsul.
4 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; andtherefore give you our voices heartily.
3 Cit. You have received many rvounds foryour country.
Cor. I will not seal your knowledge withshowing them. I will make much of yourvoices, and so trouble you no further.
Both Cit. The gods give you joy, sir, heartily !
^Exeunt.
Cor. Most sweet voices !—
Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.Why in this woolvish gown should I stand here,To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,
Their needless vouches ? Custom calls me to’t:—What custom wills, in all things should we do’t,The dust on antique time would lie unswept,And mountainous error be too highly heap’dFor truth to over-peer.—Rather than fool it so,Let the high office and the honour goTo one that would do thus.—I am half through ;The one part suffer’d, the other will I do.
Enter three other Citizens.
Here comes more voices,—
Your voices: for your voices 1 have fought;Watch’d for your voices; for your voices, bearOf wounds two dozen odd ■ battles thrice sixI have seen, and heard of; for your voices, haveDone many things, some less, some more: yourvoices:
Indeed, I would he consul.
5 Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot gowithout any honest man’s voice.
6 Cit. Therefore let him be consul: The godsgive him joy, and make him good friend to thepeople!
All. Amen, amen.—
God save thee, noble consul! \Exeunt Citizens.
Cor. Worthy voices!
Ee-entor Menenius , with Brutus and Sxci-
NIUS.
Men. You have stood your limitation; andthe tribunes
Endue you with the people’s voice: Remains,
That, in the official marks invested, youAnon do meet the senate.
Cor. Is this done ?
Sic. Tliecustomof requestyouhavedischarg’d :The people do admit you ; and are summon’dTo meet anon, upon your approbation.
Cor. Where ? at the senate-house ?
Sic. There, Coriolanus.
Cor. May I then change these garments ?
Sic. You may, sir.
Cor. That I’ll straight do; and, knowingmyself again,
Repair to the senate-house.
Men . I’ll keep you company.—Will you along ?Bru. We stay here for the people.
Sic. Fare you well.
\JExeunt Coriolanus and Menenius .He has it now ; and by his looks, methinks,
’Tis warm at his heart.
Bru. With a proud heart he woreHis humble weeds: Will you dismiss the people ?
Re-enter Citizens.
Sic. How now, my masters ? have you chosethis man ?
1 Cit. He has our voices, sir.
Bru. We pray the gods, he may deserve yourloves.
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 downright.
1 Cit. No, ’tis his kind of speech, he did not
mock us.
2 Cit. Not one amongst us, save yourself,
but says,
He us’d us scornfully: he should have show’d usHis marks of merit, wounds received for hiscountry.
Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.
Cit. No ; no man saw ’em. ^Several speak.
3 Cit. He said, he had wounds, which he could
show in private ;
And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be consul, says he: aged custom,
But by your voices, will not so permit me ;
Your voices therefore: When we granted that,Here was,— I thank you for your voices, — thankyou,—
Your most sweet voices:—now you have left yourvoices,
I have no further with you: —Was not thismockery ?
Sic. Why, either, you were ignorant to see’t ;Or, seeing it, of such childish friendlinessTo yield your voices ?
Bru. Could you not have told him,
As you were lesson’d,—When he had no power,But was a petty servant to the state,
He was your enemy ; ever spake againstYour liberties, and the charters that you hearI’tlie body of the weal: and now, arrivingA place of potency, and sway o’the state,